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once more spoke：
〃Royal Egypt； thou knowest not the noble Antony。 He is stern on paper；
and ever he sets down his thoughts as though his stylus were a spear
dipped in the blood of men。 But face to face with him； thou； of all
the world； shalt find him the gentlest warrior that ever won a battle。
Be advised； O Egypt！ and come。 Send me not hence with such angry
words； for if thou dost draw Antony to Alexandria； then woe to
Alexandria； to the people of the Nile； and to thee； great Egypt！ For
then he will come armed and breathing war； and it shall go hard with
thee； who dost defy the gathered might of Rome。 I pray thee； then；
obey this summons。 Come to Cilicia； come with peaceful gifts and not
in arms。 Come in thy beauty； and tricked in thy best attire； and thou
hast naught to fear from the noble Antony。〃 He paused and looked at
her meaningly； while I； taking his drift； felt the angry blood surge
into my face。
Cleopatra； too； understood； for I saw her rest her chin upon her hand
and the cloud of thought gathered in her eyes。 For a time she sat
thus； while the crafty Dellius watched her curiously。 And Charmion；
standing with the other ladies by the throne； she also read his
meaning； for her face lit up； as a summer cloud lights in the evening
when the broad lightning flares behind it。 Then once more it grew pale
and quiet。
At length Cleopatra spoke。 〃This is a heavy matter；〃 she said； 'and
therefore； noble Dellius； we must have time to let our judgment ripen。
Rest thou here； and make thee as merry as our poor circumstances
allow。 Thou shalt have thy answer within ten days。〃
The envoy thought awhile； then replied smiling： 〃It is well； O Egypt；
on the tenth day from now I will attend for my answer； and on the
eleventh I sail hence to join Antony my Lord。〃
Once more； at a sign from Cleopatra； the trumpets blared； and he
withdrew bowing。
CHAPTER X
OF THE TROUBLE OF CLEOPATRA； OF HER OATH TO HARMACHIS； AND
OF THE TELLING BY HARMACHIS TO CLEOPATRA OF THE SECRET OF
THE TREASURE THAT LAY BENEATH THE MASS OF 〃HER〃
That same night Cleopatra summoned me to her private chamber。 I went；
and found her much troubled in mind； never before had I seen her so
deeply moved。 She was alone； and； like some trapped lioness； walked to
and fro across the marble floor； while thought chased thought across
her mind； each； as clouds scudding over the sea； for a moment casting
its shadow in her deep eyes。
〃So thou art come； Harmachis；〃 she said； resting for a while； as she
took my hand。 〃Counsel me； for never did I need counsel more。 Oh； what
days have the Gods measured out to medays restless as the ocean！ I
have known no peace from childhood up； and it seems none shall I know。
Scarce by a very little have I escaped thy dagger's point； Harmachis；
when this new trouble； that； like a storm； has gathered beneath the
horizon's rim； suddenly bursts over me。 Didst mark that tigerish fop？
Well should I love to trap him！ How soft he spoke！ Ay； he purred like
a cat； and all the time he stretched his claws。 Didst hear the letter；
too？ it has an ugly sound。 I know this Antony。 When I was but a child；
budding into womanhood； I saw him； but my eyes were ever quick； and I
took his measure。 Half Hercules and half a fool； with a dash of genius
veining his folly through。 Easily led by those who enter at the gates
of his voluptuous sense； but if crossed； an iron foe。 True to his
friends； if； indeed； he loves them； and ofttimes false to his own
interest。 Generous； hardy； and in adversity a man of virtue； in
prosperity a sot and a slave to woman。 That is Antony。 How deal with
such a man； whom fate and opportunity； despite himself； have set on
the crest of fortune's wave？ One day it will overwhelm him； but till
that day he sweeps across the world and laughs at those who drown。〃
〃Antony is but a man；〃 I answered； 〃and a man with many foes； and；
being but a man； he can be overthrown。〃
〃Ay； he can be overthrown； but he is one of three； Harmachis。 Now that
Cassius hath gone where all fools go； Rome has thrown out a hydra
head。 Crush one； and another hisses in thy face。 There's Lepidus； and
with him； that young Octavianus； whose cold eyes may yet with a smile
of triumph look on the murdered forms of empty； worthless Lepidus； of
Antony； and of Cleopatra。 If I go not to Cilicia； mark thou！ Antony
will knit up a peace with these Parthians； and； taking the tales they
tell of me for truthand； indeed； there is truth in themwill fall
with all his force on Egypt。 And how then？〃
〃How then？ Why； then we'll drum him back to Rome。〃
〃Ah； thou sayest so； and； perchance； Harmachis； had I not won that
game we played together some twelve days gone； thou； being Pharaoh；
mightest well have done this thing； for round thy throne old Egypt
would have gathered。 But Egypt loves not me nor my Greek blood； and I
have but now scattered that great plot of thine； in which half the
land was meshed。 Will these men； then； arise to succour me？ Were Egypt
true to me； I could； indeed； hold my own against all the force that
Rome may bring； but Egypt hates me； and had as lief be ruled by the
Roman as the Greek。 Still I might make defence had I the gold； for
with money soldiers can be bought to feed the maw of mercenary battle。
But I have none； my treasuries are dry； and though there is wealth in
the land； yet debts perplex me。 These wars have brought me ruin； and I
know not how to find a talent。 Perchance； Harmachis； thou who art； by
hereditary right； Priest of the Pyramids；〃 and she drew near and
looked me in the eyes； 〃perchance； if long descended rumour does not
lie； thou canst tell me where I can touch the gold to save thy land
from ruin； and thy Love from the grasp of Antony？ Say； is it so？〃
I thought a while； and then I answered：
〃And if such a tale were true； and if I could show thee treasure
stored by the mighty Pharaohs of the most far…off age against the
needs of Khem； how can I know that thou wouldst indeed make use of
that wealth to those good ends？〃
〃Is there； then； a treasure？〃 she asked curiously。 〃Nay； fret me not；
Harmachis； for of a truth the very name of gold at this time of want
is like the sight of water in the desert。〃
〃I believe；〃 I said； 〃that there is such a treasure； though I myself
have never seen it。 But I know this； that if it still lie in the place
where it was set； it is because so heavy a curse will rest upon him
who shall lay hands on it wickedly and for selfish ends； that none of
those Pharaohs to whom it has been shown have dared to touch it；
however sore their need。〃
〃So；〃 she said； 〃they were cowardly aforetime； or else their need was
not great。 Wilt thou show me this treasure； then； Harmachis？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 I answered； 〃I will show it to thee if it still be there；
when thou hast sworn that thou wilt use it to defend Egypt from this
Roman Antony and for the welfare of her people。〃
〃I s