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Shame！ And I； with the perfumed roses on my browI； by descent and
ordination the Pharaoh of Egyptthought of the imperishable halls of
Abouthis and of that other crowning which on the morrow should be
consummate。
But still smiling； I pledged them back； and answered with a jest。 For
rising； I bowed before Cleopatra and craved leave to go。 〃Venus；〃 I
said； speaking of the planet that we know as Donaou in the morning and
Bonou in the evening； 〃was in the ascendant。 Therefore； as new…crowned
King of Love； I must now pass to do my homage to its Queen。〃 For these
barbarians name Venus Queen of Love。
And so amidst their laughter I withdraw to my watch…tower； and；
dashing that shameful chaplet down amidst the instruments of my craft；
made pretence to note the rolling of the stars。 There I waited；
thinking on many things that were to be； until Charmion should come
with the last lists of the doomed and the messages of my uncle Sepa；
whom she had seen that evening。
At length the door opened softly； and she came jewelled and clad in
her white robes； as she had left the feast。
CHAPTER V
OF THE COMING OF CLEOPATRA TO THE CHAMBER OF HARMACHIS； OF
THE THROWING FORTH OF THE KERCHIEF OF CHARMION； OF THE
STARS； AND OF THE GIFT BY CLEOPATRA OF HER FRIENDSHIP TO HER
SERVANT HARMACHIS
〃At length thou art come； Charmion；〃 I said。 〃It is over…late。〃
〃Yea； my Lord； but by no means could I escape Cleopatra。 Her mood is
strangely crossed to…night。 I know not what it may portend。 Strange
whims and fancies blow across it like light and contrary airs upon a
summer sea； and I cannot read her purpose。〃
〃Well； well； enough of Cleopatra。 Hast thou seen our uncle？〃
〃Yes； royal Harmachis。〃
〃And hast thou the last lists？〃
〃Yes； here they are；〃 and she drew them from her bosom。 〃Here is the
list of those who； after the Queen； must certainly be put to the
sword。 Among them thou wilt note is the name of that old Gaul Brennus。
I grieve for him； for we are friends； but it must be。 It is a heavy
list。〃
〃It is so；〃 I answered conning it； 〃when men write out their count
they forget no item； and our count is long。 What must be must be。 Now
for the next。〃
〃Here is the list of those to be spared； as friendly or uncertain； and
here that of the towns which will certainly rise as soon as the
messenger reaches their gates with tidings of the death of Cleopatra。〃
〃Good。 And now〃and I paused〃and now as to the manner of
Cleopatra's death。 How hast thou settled it？ Must it be by my own
hand？〃
〃Yea； my Lord；〃 she answered； and again I caught that note of
bitterness in her voice。 〃Doubtless Pharaoh will rejoice that his
should be the hand to rid the land of this false Queen and wanton
woman； and at one blow break the chains which gall the neck of Egypt。〃
〃Talk not thus； girl；〃 I said； 〃thou knowest well that I do not
rejoice； being but driven to the act by deep necessity and the
pressure of my vows。 Can she not； then； be poisoned？ Or can no one of
the eunuchs be suborned to slay her？ My soul turns from this bloody
work！ Indeed； I marvel； however heavy be her crimes； that thou canst
speak so lightly of the death by treachery of one who loves thee！〃
〃Surely Pharaoh is over…tender； forgetting the greatness of the moment
and all that hangs upon this dagger…stroke that shall cut the thread
of Cleopatra's life。 Listen； Harmachis。 /Thou/ must do the deed； and
/thou/ alone！ Myself I would do it； had my arm the strength； but it
has not。 It cannot be done by poison； for every drop she drinks and
every morsel that shall touch her lips is strictly tasted by three
separate tasters； who cannot be suborned。 Nor may the eunuchs of the
guard be trusted。 Two； indeed； are sworn to us； but the third cannot
be come at。 He must be cut down afterwards； and； indeed； when so many
men must fall； what matters a eunuch more or less？ Thus it shall be；
then。 To…morrow night； at three hours before midnight thou dost cast
the final augury of the issue of the war。 And then thou wilt； as is
agreed； descend alone with me； having the signet； to the outer chamber
of the Queen's apartment。 For the vessel bearing orders to the Legions
sails from Alexandria at the following dawn； and alone with Cleopatra；
since she wills that the thing be kept secret as the sea； thou wilt
read the message of the stars。 And as she pores over the papyrus； then
must thou stab her in the back； so that she dies； and see thou that
thy will and arm fail thee not！ The deed being doneand indeed it
will be easythou wilt take the signet and pass out to where the
eunuch isfor the others will be wanting。 If by any chance there is
trouble with himbut there will be no trouble； for he dare not enter
the private rooms； and the sounds of death cannot reach so farthou
must cut him down。 Then I will meet thee； and； passing on； we will
come to Paulus； and it shall be my care to see that he is neither
drunk nor backward； for I know how to hold him to the task。 And he and
those with him shall throw open the side gate； when Sepa and the five
hundred chosen men who are in waiting shall pour in and cast
themselves upon the sleeping legionaries； putting them to the sword。
Why； the thing is easy so thou rest true to thyself； and let no
womanish fears creep into thy heart。 What is this dagger's thrust？ It
is nothing； and yet upon it hang the destinies of Egypt and the
world。〃
〃Hush！〃 I said。 〃What is that？I hear a sound。〃
Charmion ran to the door； and； gazing down the long； dark passage；
listened。 In a moment she came back； her finger on her lips。 〃It is
the Queen；〃 she whispered hurriedly； 〃the Queen who mounts the stair
alone。 I heard her bid Iras to leave her。 I may not be found alone
with thee at this hour； it has a strange look； and she may suspect。
What wants she here？ Where can I hide？〃
I glanced round。 At the further end of the chamber was a heavy curtain
that hid a little place built in the thickness of the wall which I
used for the storage of rolls and instruments。
〃Haste theethere！〃 I said； and she glided behind the curtain； which
swung back and covered her。 Then I thrust the fatal scroll of death
into the bosom of my robe and bent over the mystic chart。 Presently I
heard the sweep of woman's robes and there came a low knock upon the
door。
〃Enter； whoever thou art；〃 I said。
The latch lifted； and Cleopatra swept in； royally arrayed； her dark
hair hanging about her and the sacred snake of royalty glistening on
her brow。
〃Of a truth； Harmachis；〃 she said with a sigh； as she sank into a
seat； 〃the path to heaven is hard to climb！ Ah！ I am weary； for those
stairs are many。 But I was minded； my astronomer； to see thee in thy
haunts。〃
〃I am honoured overmuch； O Queen！〃 I said bowing low before her。
〃Art thou now？ And yet that dark face of thine has a somewhat angry
lookthou art too young and handsome for this dry trade； Harmac