them.
They took possession of the city without a blow.

Cleopatra's troops laid down their arms, but Ptolemy's refused. They
were simply chased beyond the walls, and their punishment for the time
being was deferred.

Caesar 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.

Caesar 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.

Caesar 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
sword at his side, held in his clenched and brawny hand.

And now behold at dusk of day the grim and silent Appolidorus,
carrying upon his giant shoulders a large and curious rug, rolled up
and tied 'round at each end with ropes.

He approaches the palace of the King, and at the guarded gate hands a
note to the officer in charge. This note gives information to the
effect that a certain patrician citizen of Alexandria, being glad that
the gracious Caesar had deigned to visit Egypt, sends him the richest
rug that can be woven--done, in fact, by his wife and daughters and
held against this day, awaiting Rome's greatest son.

The officer reads the note, and orders a soldier to accept the gift
and carry it within--presents were constantly arriving. A sign from the
dumb giant makes the soldier stand back--the present is for Caesar and
can be delivered only in person. "Lead and I will follow," were the
w