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〃Yea； Prince；〃 said my uncle； 〃but his beak shows through。 Not in vain
hath Egypt brooded all these years； if thou fail not with that dagger…
stroke of thine to…night； and how canst thou fail？ Nothing can now
stop our course to victory！〃
〃It is on the knees of the Gods；〃 I answered。
〃Nay；〃 he said； 〃the Gods have placed the issue in the hands of a
mortalin thy hands； Harmachis！and there it is safe。 See： here are
the last lists。 Thirty…one thousand men who bear arms are sworn to
rise when the tidings come to them。 Within five days every citadel in
Egypt will be in our hands； and then what have we to fear？ From Rome
but little； for her hands are full； and； besides； we will make
alliance with the Triumvirate； and； if need be； buy them off。 For of
money there is plenty in the land； and if more be wanted thou；
Harmachis； knowest where it is stored against the need of Khem； and
outside the Roman's reach of arm。 Who is there to harm us？ There is
none。 Perchance； in this turbulent city； there may be struggle； and a
counter…plot to bring Arsino？ to Egypt and set her on the throne。
Therefore Alexandria must be severely dealt withay； even to
destruction； if need be。 As for Arsino？； those go forth to…morrow on
the news of the Queen's death who shall slay her secretly。〃
〃There remains the lad C？sarion；〃 I said。 〃Rome might claim through
C？sar's son； and the child of Cleopatra inherits Cleopatra's rights。
Here is a double danger。〃
〃Fear not；〃 said my uncle； 〃to…morrow C？sarion joins those who begat
him in Amenti。 I have made provision。 The Ptolemies must be stamped
out； so that no shoot shall ever spring from that root blasted by
Heaven's vengeance。〃
〃Is there no other means？〃 I asked sadly。 〃My heart is sick at the
promise of this red rain of blood。 I know the child well； he has
Cleopatra's fire and beauty and great C？sar's wit。 It were shame to
murder him。〃
〃Nay； be not so chicken…hearted； Harmachis；〃 said my uncle； sternly。
〃What ails thee； then？ If the lad is thus； the more reason that he
should die。 Wouldst thou nurse up a young lion to tear thee from the
throne？〃
〃Be it so；〃 I answered； sighing。 〃At least he is spared much； and will
go hence innocent of evil。 Now for the plans。〃
We sat long taking counsel； till at length； in face of the great
emergency and our high emprise； I felt something of the spirit of
former days flow back into my heart。 At the last all was ordered； and
so ordered that it could scarce miscarry； for it was fixed that if by
any chance I could not come to slay Cleopatra on this night； then the
plot should hang in the scale till the morrow； when the deed must be
done upon occasion。 For the death of Cleopatra was the signal。 These
matters being finished； once more we stood and； our hands upon the
sacred symbol； swore the oath that may not be written。 And then my
uncle kissed me with tears of hope and joy standing in his keen black
eyes。 He blessed me； saying that he would gladly give his life； ay；
and a hundred lives； if they were his； if he might but live to see
Egypt once more a nation； and me； Harmachis； the descendant of its
royal and ancient blood； seated on the throne。 For he was a patriot
indeed； asking nothing for himself； and giving all things to his
cause。 And I kissed him in turn； and thus we parted。 Nor did I ever
see him more in the flesh who has earned the rest that as yet is
denied to me。
So I went； and； there being yet time； walked swiftly from place to
place in the great city； taking note of the positions of the gates and
of the places where our forces must be gathered。 At length I came to
that quay where I had landed； and saw a vessel sailing for the open
sea。 I looked； and in my heaviness of heart longed that I were aboard
of her； to be borne by her white wings to some far shore where I might
live obscure and die forgotten。 Also I saw another vessel that had
dropped down the Nile； from whose deck the passengers were streaming。
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