in her own character.  Yet she was gentle, and loved me, her only son, beyond aught else.  I think she would have opened her arms to Barine, had she believed that she was necessary to my happiness.  But would the young beauty, accustomed to gay intercourse with distinguished men, have been able to submit to her demands?  When I consider that she cannot help taking into her married life the habit of being surrounded and courted; when I think that the imprudence of a woman accustomed to perfect freedom might set idle tongues in motion, and cast a shadow upon the radiant purity of my name; when I even—­” and he raised his clenched right hand.  But Archibius answered soothingly: 

“That anxiety is groundless if Barine warmly and joyfully gives you her whole heart.  It is a sunny, lovable, true woman’s heart, and therefore capable of a great love.  If she bestows it on you—­and I believe she will—­go and offer sacrifices in your gratitude; for the immortals desired your happiness when they guided your choice to her and not to Iras, my own sister’s child.  If you were really my son, I would now exclaim, ’You could not bring me a dearer daughter, if—­I repeat it—­ if you are sure of her love.’”

Dion gazed into vacancy a short time, and then cried firmly:  “I am!”

CHAPTER VIII.

The Epicurus anchored before the Temple of Poseidon.  The crew had been ordered to keep silence, though they knew nothing, except that a letter from Antony, commanding the erection of a wall, had been found on board the pirate.  This might be regarded as a good omen, for people do not think of building unless they anticipate a time of peace.

The light rain had ceased, but the wind blew more strongly from the north, and the air had grown cool.  A dense throng still covered the quay from the southern end of the Heptastadium to the promontory of Lochias.  The strongest pressure was between the peninsula of the Choma and the Sebasteum; for this afforded a view of the sea, and the first tidings must reach the residence of the Regent, which was connected with the palace.

A hundred contradictory rumours had been in circulation that morning; and when, at the third hour in the afternoon, the Epicurus arrived, it was surrounded by a dense multitude eager to hear what news the ship had brought from without.

Other vessels shared the same fate, but none could give reliable tidings.

Two swift galleys from the royal fleet reported meeting a Samian trireme, which had given news of a great victory gained by Antony on the land and Cleopatra on the sea, and, as men are most ready to believe what they desire, throngs of exulting men and women moved to and fro along the shore, strengthening by their confidence many a timorous spirit.  Prudent people, who had regarded the long delay of the first ships of the fleet with anxiety, had opened their ears to the tales of evil, and looked forward to the future with uneasiness.  But they avoided giving expression to their fears, for the overseer of an establishment for gold embroidery, who had ventured to warn the people against premature rejoicing, had limped home badly beaten, and two other pessimists who had been flung in the sea had just been dragged out dripping wet.