very tone of it forbids you, for your own honour, and the honour of
the empire. Are you to treat with a man who talks of the masses at
Alexandria as "the flock whom the King of kings has committed to his
rule and care"? Does your excellency, or this proud bishop, govern
Alexandria?'

'Really, my dear lady, I have given up inquiring.'

'But he has not. He comes to you as a person possessing an absolute
authority over two-thirds of the population, which he does not
scruple to hint to you is derived from a highersource than your own.
The consequence is clear. If it be from a higher source than yours,
of course it ought to control yours'; and you will confess that it
ought to control it--you will acknowledge the root and ground of
every extravagant claim which he makes, if you deign to reply.'

'But I must say something, or I shall be pelted in the streets. You
philosophers, however raised above your own bodies you may be, must
really not forget that we poor worldlings have bones to be broken.'

'Then tell him, and by word of mouth merely, that as the information
which he sends you comes from his private knowledge and concerns not
him as bishop, but you as magistrate, you can only take it into
consideration when he addresses you as a private person, laying a
regular information at your tribunal.'

'Charming! queen of diplomatists as well as philosophers! I go to
obey you. Ah! why were you not Pulcheria? No, for then Alexandria
had been dark, and Orestes missed the supreme happiness of kissing a
hand which Pallas, when she made you, must have borrowed from the