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For a moment I stood watching them； idly wondering if they were from
Abouthis； when suddenly I heard a familiar voice beside me。
〃/La！ la！/〃 said the voice。 〃Why； what a city is this for an old woman
to seek her fortune in！ And how shall I find those to whom I am known？
As well look for the rush in the papyrus…roll。＇*＇ Begone！ thou knave！
and let my basket of simples lie； or； by the Gods； I'll doctor thee
with them！〃
＇*＇ Papyrus was manufactured from the pith of rushes。 Hence Atoua's
saying。Editor。
I turned； wondering； and found myself face to face with my foster…
nurse； Atoua。 She knew me instantly； for I saw her start； but in the
presence of the people she checked her surprise。
〃Good Sir；〃 she whined； lifting her withered countenance towards me；
and at the same time making the secret sign。 〃By thy dress thou
shouldst be an astronomer； and I was specially told to avoid
astronomers as a pack of lying tricksters who worship their own star
only； and； therefore； I speak to thee； acting on the principle of
contraries； which is law to us women。 For surely in this Alexandria；
where all things are upside down； the astronomers may be the honest
men； since the rest are clearly knaves。〃 And then； being by now out of
earshot of the press； 〃royal Harmachis； I am come charged with a
message to thee from thy father Amenemhat。〃
〃Is he well？〃 I asked。
〃Yes； he is well； though waiting for the moment tries him sorely。〃
〃And his message？〃
〃It is this。 He sends greeting to thee and with it warning that a
great danger threatens thee； though he cannot read it。 These are his
words： 'Be steadfast and prosper。'〃
I bowed my head and the words struck a new chill of fear into my soul。
〃When is the time？〃 she asked。
〃This very night。 Where goest thou？〃
〃To the house of the honourable Sepa； Priest of Annu。 Canst thou guide
me thither？〃
〃Nay； I may not stay； nor is it wise that I should be seen with thee。
Hold！〃 and I called a porter who was idling on the quay； and； giving
him a piece of money； bade him guide the old wife to the house。
〃Farewell；〃 she whispered； 〃farewell till to…morrow。 Be steadfast and
prosper。〃
Then I turned and went my way through the crowded streets； where the
people made place for me； the astronomer of Cleopatra； for my fame had
spread abroad。
And even as I went my footsteps seemed to beat /Be steadfast； Be
steadfast； Be steadfast/； till at last it was as though the very
ground cried out its warning to me。
CHAPTER VII
OF THE VEILED WORDS OF CHARMION； OF THE PASSING OF HARMACHIS
INTO THE PRESENCE OF CLEOPATRA； AND OF THE OVERTHROW OF HARMACHIS
It was night； and I sat alone in my chamber； waiting the moment when；
as it was agreed； Charmion should summon me to pass down to Cleopatra。
I sat alone； and there before me lay the dagger that was to pierce
her。 It was long and keen； and the handle was formed of a sphinx of
solid gold。 I sat alone； questioning the future； but no answer came。
At length I looked up； and Charmion stood before meCharmion； no
longer gay and bright； but pale of face and hollow…eyed。
〃Royal Harmachis；〃 she said； 〃Cleopatra summons thee； presently to
declare to her the voices of the stars。〃
So the hour had fallen！
〃It is well； Charmion；〃 I answered。 〃Are all things in order？〃
〃Yea； my Lord； all things are in order： well primed with wine； Paulus
guards the gates； the eunuchs are withdrawn save one； the legionaries
sleep； and already Sepa and his force lie hid without。 Nothing has
been neglected； and no lamb skipping at the shamble doors can be more
innocent of its doom than is Queen Cleopatra。〃
〃It is well；〃 I said again； 〃let us be going；〃 and rising； I placed
the dagger in the bosom of my robe。 Taking a cup of wine that stood
near； I drank deep of it； for I had scarce tasted food all that day。
〃One word；〃 Charmion said hurriedly； 〃for it is not yet time： last
nightah； last night〃 and her bosom heaved； 〃I dreamed a dream that
haunts me strangely； and perchance thou also didst dream a dream。 It
was all a dream and 'tis forgotten： is it not so； my Lord？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 I said； 〃why troublest thou me thus at such an hour？〃
〃Nay； I know not； but to…night； Harmachis； Fate is in labour of a
great event； and in her painful throes mayhap she'll crush me in her
gripme or thee； or the twain of us； Harmachis。 And if that be so
well； I would hear from thee； before it is done； that 'twas naught but
a dream； and that dream forgot〃
〃Yes； it is all a dream；〃 I said idly； 〃thou and I； and the solid
earth； and this heavy night of terror； ay； and this keen knifewhat
are these but dreams； and with what face shall the waking come？〃
〃So now； thou fallest in my humour； royal Harmachis。 As thou sayest；
we dream； and while we dream yet can the vision change。 For the
phantasies of dreams are wonderful； seeing that they have no
stability； but vary like the vaporous edge of sunset clouds； building
now this thing； and now that； being now dark and heavy； and now alight
with splendour。 Therefore； before we wake to…morrow tell me one word。
Is that vision of last night； wherein I /seemed/ to be quite shamed；
and thou didst /seem/ to laugh upon my shame； a fixed phantasy； or can
it； perchance； yet change its countenance？ For remember； when that
waking comes； the vagaries of our sleep will be more unalterable and
more enduring than are the pyramids。 Then they will be gathered into
that changeless region of the past where all things； great and small
ay； even dreams； Harmachis； are； each in its own semblance； frozen to
stone and built into the Tomb of Time immortal。〃
〃Nay； Charmion；〃 I replied； 〃I grieve if I did pain thee； but over
that vision comes no change。 I said what was in my heart and there's
an end。 Thou art my cousin and my friend； I can never be more to
thee。〃
〃It is well'tis very well；〃 she said； 〃let it be forgotten。 And now
on from dreamto dream；〃 and she smiled with such a smile as I had
never seen her wear before； it was sadder and more fateful than any
stamp that grief can set upon the brow。
For； though being blinded by my own folly and the trouble at my heart
I knew it not； with that smile； the happiness of youth died for
Charmion the Egyptian； the hope of love fled； and the holy links of
duty burst asunder。 With that smile she consecrated herself to Evil；
she renounced her Country and her Gods； and trampled on her oath。 Ay；
that smile marks the moment when the stream of history changed its
course。 For had I never seen it on her face Octavianus had not
bestridden the world； and Egypt had once more been free and great。
And yet it was but a woman's smile！
〃Why lookest thou thus strangely； girl？〃 I asked。
〃In dreams we smile；〃 she answered。 〃And now it is time； follow thou
me。 Be firm and prosper； royal Harmachis！〃 and bending forward she
took my hand and kissed it