Now, filled with dismay and indignation, apprehension and reluctance, his fertile mind failed him at the moment of its greatest need.
And the eyes of the Greek, filling with suspicion and intense interest, rested upon him.
"I asked," the actress repeated calmly, "thy business with Philadelphus." At that instant a tremendous shock shook the house to its foundations; the hanging lamps lurched; the exedra jarred and in an instant several of the servants appeared at various openings into passages.

Before any of the group could stir, a second thunderous shock sent a tremor over the room, and a fragment of marble detached from a support overhead and dropped to the pavement.
"It is an attack!" Amaryllis cried.
"On this house ?" Salome demanded.
There was a clatter of arms and several men in Jewish armor rushed through the chamber from the passage that led in from the Temple.
"I shall see," said the Maccabee, and followed the men at once.
Without he saw the night sky overhead crossed by dark stones flying over the wall to the east.

Warfare had begun.
But the attack was simply preliminary and desultory.

It ceased while he waited.

Presently it began farther toward the north.