"Dead dogs," as the orator said who made this atrocious proposal, "do not bite." [Sidenote: The assassin Achillas.] An Egyptian, named Achillas, was appointed to execute the assassination thus decreed.

An invitation was sent to Pompey to land, accompanied with a promise of protection; and, when his fleet had approached near enough to the shore, Achillas took a small party in a boat, and went out to meet his galley.

The men in this boat, of course, were armed.
[Sidenote: Suspicions of Pompey's friends.] [Sidenote: Entreaties of Cornelia.] [Sidenote: Pompey's forlorn condition.] [Sidenote: He determines to land.] The officers and attendants of Pompey watched all these movements from the deck of his galley.

They scrutinized every thing that occurred with the closest attention and the greatest anxiety, to see whether the indications denoted an honest friendship or intentions of treachery.

The appearances were not favorable.