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dream？ It could not be that I woke to know myself a /traitor！/ That
the opportunity had gone for ever！ That I had betrayed the cause； and
that last night those brave men； headed by my uncle； had waited in
vain at the outer gate！ That Egypt from Abu to Athu was even now
waitingwaiting in vain！ Nay； whatever else might be； this could not
be！ Oh； it was an awful dream which I had dreamed！ a second such would
slay a man。 It were better to die than face such another vision sent
from hell。 But； though the thing was naught but a hateful phantasy of
a mind o'er…strained； where was I now？ Where was I now？ I should be in
the Alabaster Hall； waiting till Charmion came forth。
Where was I？ and O ye Gods！ what was that dreadful thing； whose shape
was the shape of a man？that thing draped in bloodstained white and
huddled in a hideous heap at the foot of the couch on which I seemed
to lie？
I sprang at it with a shriek； as a lion springs； and struck with all
my strength。 The blow fell heavily； and beneath its weight the thing
rolled over upon its side。 Half mad with terror； I rent away the white
covering； and there； his knees bound beneath his hanging jaw； was the
naked body of a manand that man the Roman Captain Paulus！ There he
lay； through his heart a daggermy dagger； handled with the sphinx of
gold！and pinned by its blade to his broad breast a scroll； and on
the scroll； writing in the Roman character。 I drew near and read； and
this was the writing：
HARMACHIDI。SALVERE。EGO。SUM。QUEM。SUBDERE。NORAS
PAULUS。ROMANUS。DISCE。HINC。QUID。PRODERE。PROSIT。
〃Greeting； Harmachis！ I was that Roman Paulus whom thou didst
suborn。 Learn now how blessed are traitors！〃
Sick and faint I staggered back from the sight of that white corpse
stained with its own blood。 Sick and faint I staggered back； till the
wall stayed me； while without the birds sang a merry greeting to the
day。 So it was no dream； and I was lost！ lost！
I thought of my aged father； Amenemhat。 Yes； the vision of him flashed
into my mind； as he would be； when they came to tell him his son's
shame and the ruin of all his hopes。 I thought of that patriot priest；
my uncle Sepa； waiting the long night through for the signal which
never came。 Ah； and another thought followed swift！ How would it go
with them？ I was not the only traitor。 I； too； had been betrayed。 By
whom？ By yonder Paulus； perchance。 If it were Paulus； he knew but
little of those who conspired with me。 But the secret lists had been
in my robe。 O Osiris！ they were gone！ and the fate of Paulus would be
the fate of all the patriots in Egypt。 And at this thought my mind
gave way。 I sank and swooned even where I stood。
My sense came back to me； and the lengthening shadows told me that it
was afternoon。 I staggered to my feet； the corpse of Paulus was still
there； keeping its awful watch above me。 I ran desperately to the
door。 It was barred； and without I heard the tramp of sentinels。 As I
stood they challenged and grounded their spears。 Then the bolts were
shot back； the door opened； and radiant； clad in royal attire； came
the conquering Cleopatra。 She came alone； and the door was shut behind
her。 I stood like one distraught； but she swept on till she was face
to face with me。
〃Greeting； Harmachis；〃 she said； smiling sweetly。 〃So； my messenger
has found thee！〃 and she pointed to the corpse of Paulus。 〃Pah！ he has
an ugly look。 Ho！ guards！〃
The door was opened； and two armed Gauls stepped across the threshold。
〃Take away this carrion；〃 said Cleopatra； 〃and fling it to the kites。
Stay； draw that dagger from his traitor breast。〃 The men bowed low；
and the knife； rusted red with blood； was dragged from the heart of
Paulus and laid upon the table。 Then they seized him by the head and
body and staggered thence； and I heard their heavy footfalls as they
bore him down the stairs。
〃Methinks； Harmachis； thou art in an evil case；〃 she said； when the
sound of the footfalls had died away。 〃How strangely the wheel of
Fortune turns！ But for that traitor；〃 and she nodded towards the door
through which the corpse of Paulus had been carried； 〃I should now be
as ill a thing to look on as he is； and the red rust on yonder knife
would have been gathered from /my/ heart。〃
So it was Paulus who had betrayed me。
〃Ay；〃 she went on； 〃and when thou camest to me last night； I /knew/
that thou camest to slay。 When； time upon time； thou didst place thy
hand within thy robe； I knew that it grasped a dagger hilt； and that
thou wast gathering thy courage to the deed which thou didst little
love to do。 Oh！ it was a strange wild hour； well worth the living； and
I wondered greatly； from moment to moment； which of us twain would
conquer； as we matched guile with guile and force to force！
〃Yea； Harmachis； the guards tramp before thy door； but be not
deceived。 Did I not know that I hold thee to me by bonds more strong
than prison chainsdid I not know that I am hedged from ill at thy
hands by a fence of honour harder for thee to pass than all the spears
of all my legions； thou hadst been dead ere now； Harmachis。 See； here
is thy knife；〃 and she handed me the dagger； 〃now slay me if thou
canst；〃 and she drew near； tore open the bosom of her robe； and stood
waiting with calm eyes。
〃Thou canst not slay me；〃 she went on； 〃for there are things； as I
know well； that no manno man such as thou artmay do and live： and
this is the chief of themto slay the woman who is all his own。 Nay；
stay thy hand！ Turn not that dagger against thy breast； for if thou
mayst not slay me； by how much more mayst thou not slay thyself； O
thou forsworn Priest of Isis！ Art thou； then； so eager to face that
outraged Majesty in Amenti？ With what eyes； thinkest thou； will the
Heavenly Mother look upon Her son； who； shamed in all things and false
to his most sacred vow； comes to greet Her； his life…blood on his
hands？ Where； then； will be the space for thy atonement？if； indeed；
thou mayest atone！〃
Then I could bear no more； for my heart was broken。 Alas！ it was too
trueI dared not die！ I was come to such a pass that I did not even
dare to die！ I flung myself upon the couch and weptwept tears of
blood and anguish。
But Cleopatra came to me； and； seating herself beside me； she strove
to comfort me； throwing her arms about my neck。
〃Nay； love； look up；〃 she said； 〃all is not lost for thee； nor am I
angered against thee。 We did play a mighty game； but； as I warned
thee； I matched my woman's magic against thine； and I have conquered。
But I will be open with thee。 Both as Queen and woman thou hast my
pityay； and more； nor do I love to see thee plunged in sorrow。 It
was well and right that thou shouldst strive to win back that throne
my fathers seized； and the ancient liberty of Egypt。 Myself as lawful
Queen had done the same； nor shrunk from the deed of darkness to which
I was sworn。 Therein； then； thou hast my sympathy； that ever go