During Timagenes’s negotiations with the secretary and Arius, Archibius came to entreat Barine’s uncle to do everything in his power to save his niece; and, as all the Queen’s friends were anxious to prevent an act which, in these times of excitement, could not fail, on account of its connection with Dion, a member of the Council, to rouse a large number of the citizens against her, Serapion, as soon as he was made aware of the matter, eagerly protested his readiness to do his best to save the imperilled lovers.  He cared nothing for Barine or Dion as individuals, but he doubtless would have been ready to make a still greater sacrifice to win the influential Archibius, and especially Arius, who would have great power through Octavianus, the rising sun.

The men had just begun to discuss plans for saving Barine, when the Nubian appeared and told Archibius what had been arranged beside Dion’s sick-bed by the freedman and Gorgias.  The escape of the fugitives depended solely upon their reaching the boat unseen, and the surest way to accomplish this was to use the subterranean passage which the architect had again opened.

Archibius, to whom the representative of the chief priest had offered his aid, now took the others into his confidence, and Arius proposed that Barine should marry Dion in the Temple of Isis, and the couple should afterwards be guided through the secret passage to the boat.  This proposal was approved, and Serapion promised to reserve the sanctuary for the wedding of the fugitives for a short time after the departure of the procession, which was to take place at sunset.  In return for this service another might perhaps soon be requested from the friend of Octavianus, who greeted his promise with grateful warmth.

“The priesthood,” said Serapion, “takes sides with all who are unjustly persecuted, and in this case bestows aid the more willingly on account of its great anxiety to guard the Queen from an act which would be difficult to approve.”  As for the fugitives, so far as he could see, only two possibilities were open to them:  Cleopatra would cleave to Mark Antony and go—­would that the immortals might avert it!—­to ruin, or she would sacrifice him and save her throne and life.  In both cases the endangered lovers could soon return uninjured—­the Queen had a merciful heart, and never retained anger long if no guilt existed.

The details of the plan were then settled by Archibius, Anukis, and Berenike, who was with the family of Arius, and the decision was communicated to the architect.  Archibius had maintained the same silence concerning the destination of the fugitives towards the men composing the council and Barine’s mother as to his sister.  With regard to the mission of Timagenes and the political questions which occupied his mind, he gave Charmian only the degree of information necessary to explain the plan she so lovingly promoted; but she had no desire to know more.  On the way home her mind was wholly absorbed by the fear that Cleopatra had missed her services and discovered Barine’s flight.  True, she mentioned the Queen’s desire to place her children in Archibius’s charge, but she could not give him full particulars until she reached her own apartments.