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servant and the servant of our cause。 Farewell！〃
And she went； leaning her hand against the wall。 But I； passing to my
chamber； flung myself upon my couch； and groaned in bitterness of
spirit。 Alas！ we shape our plans； and by slow degrees build up our
house of Hope； never counting on the guests that time shall bring to
lodge therein。 For who can guard againstthe Unforeseen？
At length I slept； and my dreams were evil。 When I woke the light of
the day which should see the red fulfilment of the plot was streaming
through the casement； and the birds sang merrily among the garden
palms。 I woke； and as I woke the sense of trouble pressed in upon me；
for I remembered that before this day was gathered to the past I must
dip my hands in bloodyes； in the blood of Cleopatra； who trusted me！
Why could I not hate her as I should？ There had been a time when I
looked on to this act of vengeance with somewhat of a righteous glow
of zeal。 And nowand nowwhy； I would frankly give my royal
birthright to be free from its necessity！ But； alas！ I knew that there
was no escape。 I must drain this cup or be for ever cast away。 I felt
the eyes of Egypt watching me； and the eyes of Egypt's Gods。 I prayed
to my Mother Isis to give me strength to do this deed； and prayed as I
had never prayed before； and oh； wonder！ no answer came。 Nay； how was
this？ What； then； had loosed the link between us that； for the first
time； the Goddess deigned no reply to her son and chosen servant？
Could it be that I had sinned in heart against her？ What had Charmion
saidthat I loved Cleopatra？ Was this sickness love？ Nay！ a thousand
times nay！it was but the revolt of Nature against an act of
treachery and blood。 The Goddess did but try my strength； or perchance
she also turned her holy countenance from murder？
I rose filled with terror and despair； and went about my task like a
man without a soul。 I conned the fatal lists and noted all the plans
ay； in my brain I gathered up the very words of that proclamation of
my Royalty which； on the morrow； I should issue to the startled world。
〃Citizens of Alexandria and dwellers in the land of Egypt；〃 it began；
〃Cleopatra the Macedonian hath； by the command of the Gods； suffered
justice for her crimes〃
All these and other things I did； but I did them as a man without a
soulas a man moved by a force from without and not from within。 And
so the minutes wore away。 In the third hour of the afternoon I went as
by appointment fixed to the house where my uncle Sepa lodged； that
same house to which I had been brought some three months gone when I
entered Alexandria for the first time。 And here I found the leaders of
the revolt in the city assembled in secret conclave to the number of
seven。 When I had entered； and the doors were barred； they prostrated
themselves； and cried； 〃Hail； Pharaoh！〃 but I bade them rise； saying
that I was not yet Pharaoh； for the chicken was still in the egg。
〃Yea； Prince；〃 said my uncle； 〃but his beak shows through。 Not in vain
hath Egypt brooded all these years； if thou fail not with that dagger…
stroke of thine to…night； and how canst thou fail？ Nothing can now
stop our course to victory！〃
〃It is on the knees of the Gods；〃 I answered。
〃Nay；〃 he said； 〃the Gods have placed the issue in the hands of a
mortalin thy hands； Harmachis！and there it is safe。 See： here are
the last lists。 Thirty…one thousand men who bear arms are sworn to
rise when the tidings come to them。 Within five days every citadel in
Egypt will be in our hands； and then what have we to fear？ From Rome
but little； for her hands are full； and； besides； we will make
alliance with the Triumvirate； and； if need be； buy them off。 For of
money there is plenty in the land； and if more be wanted thou；
Harmachis； knowest where it is stored against the need of Khem； and
outside the Roman's reach of arm。 Who is there to harm us？ There is
none。 Perchance； in this turbulent city； there may be struggle； and a
counter…plot to bring Arsino？ to Egypt and set her on the throne。
Therefore Alexandria must be severely dealt withay； even to
destruction； if need be。 As for Arsino？； those go forth to…morrow on
the news of the Queen's death who shall slay her secretly。〃
〃There remains the lad C？sarion；〃 I said。 〃Rome might claim through
C？sar's son； and the child of Cleopatra inherits Cleopatra's rights。
Here is a double danger。〃
〃Fear not；〃 said my uncle； 〃to…morrow C？sarion joins those who begat
him in Amenti。 I have made provision。 The Ptolemies must be stamped
out； so that no shoot shall ever spring from that root blasted by
Heaven's vengeance。〃
〃Is there no other means？〃 I asked sadly。 〃My heart is sick at the
promise of this red rain of blood。 I know the child well； he has
Cleopatra's fire and beauty and great C？sar's wit。 It were shame to
murder him。〃
〃Nay； be not so chicken…hearted； Harmachis；〃 said my uncle； sternly。
〃What ails thee； then？ If the lad is thus； the more reason that he
should die。 Wouldst thou nurse up a young lion to tear thee from the
throne？〃
〃Be it so；〃 I answered； sighing。 〃At least he is spared much； and will
go hence innocent of evil。 Now for the plans。〃
We sat long taking counsel； till at length； in face of the great
emergency and our high emprise； I felt something of the spirit of
former days flow back into my heart。 At the last all was ordered； and
so ordered that it could scarce miscarry； for it was fixed that if by
any chance I could not come to slay Cleopatra on this night； then the
plot should hang in the scale till the morrow； when the deed must be
done upon occasion。 For the death of Cleopatra was the signal。 These
matters being finished； once more we stood and； our hands upon the
sacred symbol； swore the oath that may not be written。 And then my
uncle kissed me with tears of hope and joy standing in his keen black
eyes。 He blessed me； saying that he would gladly give his life； ay；
and a hundred lives； if they were his； if he might but live to see
Egypt once more a nation； and me； Harmachis； the descendant of its
royal and ancient blood； seated on the throne。 For he was a patriot
indeed； asking nothing for himself； and giving all things to his
cause。 And I kissed him in turn； and thus we parted。 Nor did I ever
see him more in the flesh who has earned the rest that as yet is
denied to me。
So I went； and； there being yet time； walked swiftly from place to
place in the great city； taking note of the positions of the gates and
of the places where our forces must be gathered。 At length I came to
that quay where I had landed； and saw a vessel sailing for the open
sea。 I looked； and in my heaviness of heart longed that I were aboard
of her； to be borne by her white wings to some far shore where I might
live obscure and die forgotten。 Also I saw another vessel that had
dropped down the Nile； from whose deck the passengers were streaming。
For a moment I stood watching them； i