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Roman Antony and for the welfare of her people。〃
〃I swear it！〃 she said earnestly。 〃Oh； I swear by every God in Khem
that if thou showest me this great treasure； I will defy Antony and
send Dellius back to Cilicia with sharper words than those he brought。
Yes； I'll do more； Harmachis： so soon as may be； I will take thee to
husband before all the world； and thou thyself shalt carry out thy
plans and beat off the Roman eagles。〃
Thus she spoke； gazing at me with truthful； earnest eyes。 I believed
her； and for the first time since my fall was for a moment happy；
thinking that all was not lost to me； and that with Cleopatra； whom I
loved thus madly； I might yet win my place and power back。
〃Swear it； Cleopatra！〃 I said。
〃I swear； beloved！ and thus I seal my oath！〃 and she kissed me on the
forehead。 And I； too； kissed her； and we talked of what we would do
when we were wed； and how we should overcome the Roman。
And thus I was again beguiled； though I believe that； had it not been
for the jealous anger of Charmionwhich； as shall be seen； was ever
urging her forward to fresh deeds of shameCleopatra would have
wedded me and broken with the Roman。 And； indeed； in the issue； it had
been better for her and Egypt。
We sat far into the night； and I revealed to her somewhat of that
ancient secret of the mighty treasure hid beneath the mass of /Her/。
Thither； it was agreed； we should go on the morrow； and the second
night from now attempt its search。 So； early on the next day； a boat
was secretly made ready； and Cleopatra entered it； veiled as an
Egyptian lady about to make a pilgrimage to the Temple of Horemkhu。
And I also entered； cloaked as a pilgrim； and with us ten of her most
trusted servants disguised as sailors。 But Charmion went not with us。
We sailed with a fair wind from the Canopic mouth of the Nile； and
that night； pushing on with the moon； we reached Sais at midnight； and
here rested for a while。 At dawn we once more loosed our craft； and
all that day sailed swiftly； till； at last； at the third hour from the
sunset； we came in sight of the lights of that fortress which is
called Babylon。 Here； on the opposite bank of the river； we moored our
ship safely in a bed of reeds。
Then； on foot and secretly； we set out for the pyramids； which were at
a distance of two leagues； Cleopatra； I and one trusted eunuch； for we
left the other servants with the boat。 Only I caught an ass for
Cleopatra to ride that was wandering in a tilled field； and threw a
cloak upon it。 She sat on it and I led the ass by paths I knew； the
eunuch following us on foot。 And； within little more than an hour；
having gained the great causeway； we saw the mighty pyramids towering
up through the moonlit air and aweing us to silence。 We passed on in
utter silence； through the haunted city of the dead； for all around us
stood the solemn tombs； till at length we climbed the rocky hill； and
stood in the deep shadow of Khufu Khut； the splendid Throne of Khufu。
〃Of a truth；〃 whispered Cleopatra； as she gazed up the dazzling marble
slope above her； everywhere blazoned over with a million mystic
characters〃of a truth； there were Gods ruling in Khem in those days；
and not men。 This place is sad as Deathay； and as mighty and far
from man。 Is it here that we must enter？〃
〃Nay；〃 I answered； 〃it is not here。 Pass on。〃
I led the way through a thousand ancient tombs； till we stood in the
shadow of Ur the Great； and gazed at his red heaven…piercing mass。
〃Is it here that we must enter？〃 she whispered once again。
〃Nay；〃 I answered； 〃it is not here。 Pass on。〃
We passed on through many more tombs； till we stood in the shadow of
/Her/；＇*＇ and Cleopatra gazed astonished at its polished beauty； which
for thousands of years； night by night； had mirrored back the moon；
and at the black girdle of Ethiopian stone that circled its base
about。 For this is the most beautiful of all pyramids。
＇*＇ The 〃Upper；〃 now known as the Third Pyramid。Editor。
〃Is it that we must enter？〃 she said。
I answered； 〃It is here。〃
We passed round between the Temple of the Worship of his Divine
Majesty； Menkau…ra； the Osirian； and in the base of the pyramid till
we came to the north side。 Here in the centre is graved the name of
Pharaoh Menkau…ra； who built the pyramid to be his tomb； and stored
his treasure in it against the need of Khem。
〃If the treasure still remains；〃 I said to Cleopatra； 〃as it remained
in the days of my great…great…grandfather； who was Priest of this
Pyramid before me； it is hid deep in the womb of the mass before thee；
Cleopatra； nor can it be come by without toil； danger； and terror of
mind。 Art thou prepared to enterfor thou thyself must enter and must
judge？〃
〃Canst thou not go in with the eunuch； Harmachis； and bring the
treasure forth？〃 she said； for a little her courage began to fail her。
〃Nay； Cleopatra；〃 I answered； 〃not even for thee and for the weal of
Egypt can I do this thing； for of all sins it would be the greatest
sin。 But it is lawful for me to do this。 I； as hereditary holder of
the secret； may； upon demand； show to the ruling monarch of Khem the
place where the treasure lies； and show also the warning that is
written。 And if on seeing and reading； the Pharaoh deems that the need
of Khem is so sore and strait that it is lawful for him to brave the
curse of the Dead and draw forth the treasure； it is well； for on his
head must rest the weight of this dread deed。 Three monarchsso say
the records that I have readhave thus dared to enter in the time of
need。 They were the Divine Queen Hatshepsu； that wonder known to the
Gods alone； her Divine brother Tahutimes Men…Kheper…ra； and the Divine
Rameses Mi…amen。 But of these three Majesties； not one when they saw
dared to touch； for； though sharp their need； it was not great enough
to consecrate the act。 So； fearing lest the curse should fall upon
them； they went hence sorrowing。〃
She thought a little； till at last her spirit overcame her fear。
〃At the least I will see with mine own eyes；〃 she said。
〃It is well；〃 I answered。 Then； stones having been piled up by me and
the eunuch who was with us on a certain spot at the base of the
pyramid； to somewhat more than the height of a man； I climbed on them
and searched for the secret mark； no larger than a leaf。 I found it
with some trouble； for the weather and the rubbing of the wind…stirred
sand had worn even the Ethiopian stone。 Having found it； I pressed on
it with all my strength in a certain fashion。 even after the lapse of
many years the stone swung round； showing a little opening； through
which a man might scarcely creep。 As it swung； a mighty bat； white in
colour as though with unreckoned age； and such as I had never seen
before for bigness； for his measure was the measure of a hawk； flew
forth and for a moment hovered over Cleopatra； then sailed slowly up
and up in circles； till at l