Cæsar took possession of the palace of the King, and his soldiers
accommodated themselves in the houses, public buildings, and temples
as best they could.

Cleopatra asked for a personal interview, in order to present her
cause.

Cæsar declined to meet her—he understood the trouble—many such cases
he had seen. Claimants for thrones were not new to him. Where two
parties quarreled, both are right—or wrong—it really mattered little.

It is absurd to quarrel—still more foolish to fight.

Cæsar was a man of peace, and to keep the peace he would appoint one
of his generals governor, and make Egypt a Roman colony.

In the meantime he would rest a week or two, with the kind permission
of the Alexandrians, and write upon his “Commentaries”—no, he would
not see either Cleopatra or Ptolemy—any desired information they would
get through his trusted emissaries.

In the service of Cleopatra was a Sicilian slave who had been her
personal servant since she was a little girl. This man’s name was
Appolidorus. He was a man of giant stature and imposing mien. Ten
years before his tongue had been torn out as a token that as he was to
attend a queen he should tell no secrets.

Appolidorus had but one thought in life, and that was to defend his
gracious queen. He slept at the door of Cleopatra’s tent, a naked