With these words the queen sobbed aloud, hastily lifting her hands to
cover her eyes, and ran to the door by which she had entered her
brother's rooms.

But Euergetes stood in her way, and said sternly and positively:

"You are to stay here till I return. Collect yourself, for at the next
event which this momentous day will bring forth it will be my turn to
laugh while your blood shall run cold." And with a few swift steps he
left the hall.

Cleopatra buried her face in the soft cushions of the couch, and wept
without ceasing, till she was presently startled by loud cries and the
clatter of arms. Her quick wit told her what was happening. In frantic
haste she flew to the door but it was locked; no shaking, no screaming,
no thumping seemed to reach the ears of the guard whom she heard
monotonously walking up and down outside her prison.

And now the tumult and clang of arms grew louder and louder, and the
rattle of drums and blare of trumpets began to mingle with the sound.
She rushed to the window in mortal fear, and looked down into the palace-
yard; at that same instant the door of the great banqueting-hall was
flung open, and a flying crowd streamed out in distracted confusion--then
another, and a third--all troops in King Philometor's uniform. She ran
to the door of the room into which she had thrust her children; that too
was locked. In her desperation she once more sprang to the window,
shouted to the flying Macedonians to halt and make a stand--threatening
and entreating; but no one heard her, and their number constantly
increased, till at length she saw her husband standing on the threshold