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slaughter being noised abroad might bring trouble on her。 Therefore
has she brought thee here to kill thee secretly。 For what more canst
thou give her？ She has thy heart's love； and is wearied of thy
strength and beauty。 She has robbed thee of thy royal birthright and
brought thee； a King； to stand amidst the waiting…women behind her at
her feasts； she has won from thee the great secret of the holy
treasure！〃
〃Ah； thou knowest that？〃
〃Yes； I know all； and to…night thou seest how the wealth stored
against the need of Khem is being squandered to fill up the wanton
luxury of Khem's Macedonian Queen！ Thou seest how she has kept her
oath to wed thee honourably。 Harmachisat length thine eyes are open
to the truth！〃
〃Ay； I see too well； and yet she swore she loved me； and I； poor fool；
I believed her！〃
〃She swore she loved thee！〃 answered Charmion； lifting her dark eyes：
〃now I will show thee how she loves thee。 Knowest thou what was this
house？ It was a priest's college； and； as thou wottest； Harmachis；
priests have their ways。 This little room aforetime was the room of
the Head Priest； and the chamber that is beyond and below was the
gathering…place of the other priests。 The old slave who keeps the
house told me all this； and also she revealed what I shall show thee。
Now； Harmachis； be silent as the dead； and follow me！〃
She blew out the lamp； and by the little light that crept through the
shuttered casement led me by the hand to the far corner of the room。
Here she pressed upon the wall； and a door opened in its thickness。 We
entered； and she closed the spring。 Now we were in a little chamber；
some five cubits in length by four in breadth； for a faint light
struggled into the closet； and also the sound of voices； I knew not
whence。 Loosing my hand； she crept to the end of the place； and looked
steadfastly at the wall； then crept back and； whispering 〃Silence！〃
led me forward with her。 Then I saw that there were eyeholes in the
wall； which pierced it； and were hidden on the farther side by carved
work in stone。 I looked through the hole that was in front of me； and
I saw this： six cubits below was the level of the floor of another
chamber； lit with fragrant lamps； and most richly furnished。 It was
the sleeping…place of Cleopatra； and there； within ten cubits of where
we stood； sat Cleopatra on a gilded couch； and by her side sat Antony。
〃Tell me；〃 Cleopatra murmuredfor this place was so built that every
word spoken in the room below came to the ears of the listener above
〃tell me； noble Antony； wast pleased with my poor festival？〃
〃Ay；〃 he answered in his deep soldier's voice； 〃ay； Egypt； I have made
feasts； and been bidden to feasts； but never saw I aught like thine；
and I tell thee this； though I am rough of tongue and unskilled in
pretty sayings such as women love； thou wast the richest sight of all
that splendid board。 The red wine was not so red as thy beauteous
cheek； the roses smelt not so sweet as the odour of thy hair； and no
sapphire there with its changing light was so lovely as thy eyes of
ocean blue。〃
〃What！ Praise from Antony！ Sweet words from the lips of him whose
writings are so harsh！ Why； it is praise indeed！〃
〃Ay；〃 he went on； 〃it was a royal feast； though I grieve that thou
didst waste that great pearl； and what meant that hour…calling
astrologer of thine； with his ill…omened talk of the curse of
Menkau…ra？〃
A shadow fled across her glowing face。 〃I know not； he was lately
wounded in a brawl； and methinks the blow has crazed him。〃
〃He seemed not crazed； and there was that about his voice which rings
in my ears like some oracle of fate。 So wildly； too； he looked upon
thee； Egypt； with those piercing eyes of his； like one who loved and
yet hated through the love。〃
〃He is a strange man； I tell thee； noble Antony； and a learned。
Myself； at times； I almost fear him； for he is deeply versed in the
ancient arts of Egypt。 Knowest thou that the man is of royal blood；
and once he plotted to slay me？ But I won him over； and slew him not；
for he had the key to secrets that I fain would learn； and； indeed； I
loved his wisdom； and to listen to his deep talk of all hidden
things。〃
〃By Bacchus； I grow jealous of the knave！ And now； Egypt？〃
〃And now I have sucked his knowledge dry； and have no more cause to
fear him。 Didst thou not see that I have made him stand these three
nights a slave amid my slaves； and call aloud the hours as they fled
in festival。 No captive King marching in thy Roman triumphs can have
suffered pangs so keen as that proud Egyptian Prince when he stood
shamed behind my couch。〃
Here Charmion laid her hand on mine and pressed it； as though in
tenderness。
〃Well； he shall trouble us no more with his words of evil omen；〃
Cleopatra went on slowly； 〃to…morrow morn he diesdies swiftly and in
secret； leaving no trace of what his fate has been。 On this is my mind
fixed； of a truth； noble Antony； it is fixed。 Even as I speak the fear
of this man grows and gathers in my breast。 Half am I minded to give
the word even now； for I breathe not freely till he be dead；〃 and she
made as though to rise。
〃Let it be till morning；〃 he said； catching her by the hand； 〃the
soldiers drink； and the deed will be ill done。 'Tis pity too。 I love
not to think of men slaughtered in their sleep。〃
〃In the morning； perchance； the hawk may have flown；〃 she answered；
pondering。 〃He hath keen ears； this Harmachis； and can summon things
to aid him that are not of the earth。 Perchance； even now he hears me
in the spirit； for； of a truth； I seem to feel his presence breathing
round me。 I could tell theebut no； let him be！ Noble Antony； be my
tiring…woman and loose me this crown of gold； it chafes my brow。 Be
gentle； hurt me notso。〃
He lifted the ur？us crown from her brows； and she shook loose her
heavy weight of hair that fell about her like a garment。
〃Take back thy crown； royal Egypt；〃 he said； speaking low； 〃take it
from my hand； I will not rob thee of it； but rather set it more firmly
on that beauteous brow。〃
〃What means my Lord？〃 she asked； smiling and looking into his eyes。
〃What mean I？ Why then； this： thou camest hither at my bidding to make
answer of the charges laid against thee as to matters politic。 And
knowest thou； Egypt； that hadst thou been other than thou art thou
hadst not gone back to queen it on the Nile； for of this I am sure；
the charges against thee are true in fact。 But； being what thou art
and look thou！ never did Nature serve a woman better！I forgive thee
all。 For the sake of thy grace and beauty I forgive thee that which
had not been forgiven to virtue； or to patriotism； or to the dignity
of age！ See now how good a thing is woman's wit and loveliness； that
can make kings forget their duty and cozen even blindfolded Justice to
peep ere she lifts her sword！ Take back thy crown； O Egypt！ It is now
my care that； t