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are those dear nights； dead is the moon that lit them； the waters
which rocked us on their breast are lost in the wide salt sea； and
where we kissed and clung there lips unborn shall kiss and cling！ How
beautiful was their promise； doomed； like an unfruitful blossom； to
wither； fall； and rot！ and their fulfilment； ah； how drear！ For all
things end in darkness and in ashes； and those who sow in folly shall
reap in sorrow。 Ah！ those nights upon the Nile！
And so at length once more we stood within the hateful walls of that
fair palace on the Lochias； and the dream was done。
〃Whither hast thou wandered with Cleopatra； Harmachis？〃 Charmion asked
of me when I met her by chance on that day of return。 〃On some new
mission of betrayal？ Or was it but a love…journey？〃
〃I went with Cleopatra upon secret business of the State；〃 I answered
sternly。
〃So！ Those who go secretly； go evilly； and foul birds love to fly at
night。 Not but what thou art wise； for it would scarce beseem thee；
Harmachis； to show thy face openly in Egypt。〃
I heard； and felt my passion rise within me； for I could ill bear this
fair girl's scorn。
〃Hast thou never a word without a sting？〃 I asked。 〃Know； then； that I
went whither thou hadst not dared to go； to gather means to hold Egypt
from the grasp of Antony。〃
〃So；〃 she answered； looking up swiftly。 〃Thou foolish man！ Thou hadst
done better to save thy labour； for Antony will grasp Egypt in thy
despite。 What power hast thou to…day in Egypt？〃
〃That he may do in my despite； but in despite of Cleopatra that he
cannot do；〃 I said。
〃Nay； but with the /aid/ of Cleopatra he can and will do it；〃 she
answered with a bitter smile。 〃When the Queen sails in state up Cydnus
stream she will surely draw this coarse Antony thence to Alexandria；
conquering； and yet； like thee； a slave！〃
〃It is false！ I say that it is false！ Cleopatra goes not to Tarsus；
and Antony comes not to Alexandria； or； if he come； it will be to take
the chance of war。〃
〃Now； thinkest thou thus？〃 she answered with a little laugh。 〃Well； if
it please thee； think as thou wilt。 Within three days thou shalt know。
It is pretty to see how easily thou art fooled。 Farewell！ Go； dream on
Love； for surely Love is sweet。〃
And she went； leaving me angered and troubled at heart。
I saw Cleopatra no more that day； but on the day which followed I saw
her。 She was in a heavy mood； and had no gentle word for me。 I spake
to her of the defence of Egypt； but she put the matter away。
〃Why dost thou weary me？〃 she said with anger； 〃canst thou not see
that I am lost in troubles？ When Dellius has had his answer to…morrow
then we will speak of these matters。〃
〃Ay；〃 I said； 〃when Dellius has had his answer； and knowest thou that
but yesterday； Charmionwhom about the palace they name the 'Keeper
of the Queen's secrets'Charmion swore that the answer would be 'Go
in peace； I come to Antony！'〃
〃Charmion knows nothing of my heart；〃 said Cleopatra； stamping her
foot in anger； 〃and if she talk so freely the girl shall be scourged
out of my Court； as is her desert。 Though； in truth；〃 she added； 〃she
has more wisdom in that small head of hers than all my privy
councillorsay； and more wit to use it。 Knowest thou that I have sold
a portion of those gems to the rich Jews of Alexandria； and at a great
price； ay； at five thousand sestertia for each one？＇*＇ But a few； in
truth； for they could not buy more as yet。 It was rare to see their
eyes when they fell upon them： they grew large as apples with avarice
and wonder。 And now leave me； Harmachis； for I am weary。 The memory of
that dreadful night is with me yet。〃
＇*＇ About forty thousand pounds of our money。Editor。
I bowed and rose to go； and yet stood wavering。
〃Pardon me； Cleopatra； it is of our marriage。〃
〃Our marriage！ Why； are we not indeed already wed？〃 she answered。
〃Yes； but not before the world。 Thou didst promise。〃
〃Ay； Harmachis； I promised； and to…morrow； when I have rid me of this
Dellius； I will keep my promise； and name thee Cleopatra's Lord before
the Court。 See that thou art in thy place。 Art content？〃
And she stretched out her hand for me to kiss； looking on me with
strange eyes； as though she struggled with herself。 Then I went； but
that night I strove once more to see Cleopatra； and could not。 〃The
Lady Charmion was with the Queen；〃 so said the eunuchs； and none might
enter。
On the morrow the Court met in the great hall one hour before mid…day；
and I went thither with a trembling heart to hear Cleopatra's answer
to Dellius； and to hear myself also named King…consort to the Queen of
Egypt。 It was a full and splendid Court； there were councillors；
lords； captains； eunuchs； and waiting…women； all save Charmion。 The
house passed； but Cleopatra and Charmion came not。 At length Charmion
entered gently by a side entrance； and took her place among the
waiting…ladies about the throne。 Even as she did so she cast a glance
at me； and there was triumph in her eyes； though I knew not over what
she triumphed。 I little guessed that she had but now brought about my
ruin and sealed the fate of Egypt。
Then presently the trumpets blared； and； clad in her robes of state；
the ur？us crown upon her head； and on her breast； flashing like a
star； that great emerald scarab？us which she had dragged from dead
Pharaoh's heart； Cleopatra swept in splendour to her throne； followed
by a glittering guard of Northmen。 Her lovely face was dark； dark were
her slumbrous eyes； and none might read their message； though all that
Court searched them for a sign of what should come。 She seated herself
slowly as one who may not be moved； and spoke to the chief of the
heralds in the Greek tongue：
〃Does the Ambassador of the noble Antony wait？〃
The herald bowed low and made assent。
〃Let him come in and hear our answer。〃
The doors were flung wide； and； followed by his train of knights；
Dellius； clad in his golden armour and his purple mantle； walked with
cat…like step up the great hall； and made obeisance before the throne。
〃Most royal and beauteous Egypt；〃 he said； in his soft voice； 〃as thou
hast graciously been pleased to bid me； thy servant； I am here to take
thy answer to the letter of the noble Antony the Triumvir； whom
to…morrow I sail to meet at Tarsus； in Cilicia。 And I will say this；
royal Egypt； craving pardon the while for the boldness of my speech
bethink thee well before words that cannot be unspoken fall from those
sweet lips。 Defy Antony； and Antony will wreck thee。 But； like thy
mother Aphrodité； rise glorious on his sight from the bosom of the
Cyprian wave； and for wreck he will give thee all that can be dear to
woman's royaltyEmpire； and pomp of place； cities and the sway of
men； fame and wealth； and the Diadem of rule made sure。 For mark：
Antony holds this Eastern World in the hollow of his warlike hand； at
his will kings are； and at his frown they cease to be。〃
And he bowed his head and； folding his hands meekly on his breast；
awaited answer。
For a while Cleopatra answered not； but sat like the Sphinx Horemkhu；
dumb and inscrutable； gazing with lost eyes down the length of that
great hall。
Then； like soft music； her answer came； and trembling I listened for
Egypt's challenge to the Roman：
〃Noble Dellius；We have bethought us much of the matter of thy
message from great Antony to our poor Royalty of Egypt。 We have
bethought us much； and we have taken counsel from the oracles of the
Gods； from the wisest among our friends； and from the teachings of our
heart； that ever； like a nesting bird； broods over our people's weal。
Sharp are the words that thou has brought across the sea； methinks
they had been better fitted to the ears of some petty half…tamed
prince than to those of Egypt's Queen。 Therefore we have numbered the
legions that we can gather； and the triremes and the galleys wherewith
we may breast the sea； and the moneys which shall buy us all things
wanting to our war。 And we find this； that； though Antony be strong；
yet has Egypt naught to fear from the strength of Antony。〃
She paused； and a murmur of applause of her high words ran down the
hall。 Only Dellius stretched out his hand as though to push them back。
Then came the end！
〃Noble Dellius；Half are we minded there to bid our tongue stop； and；
strong in our fortresses of stone； and our other fortresses built of
the hearts of men； abide the issue。 And yet thou shalt not go thus。 We
are guiltless of those charges against us that have come to the ears
of noble Antony； and which now he rudely shouts in ours； nor will we
journey into Cilicia to answer them。〃
Here the murmur arose anew； while my heart beat high in triumph； and
in the pause that followed； Dellius spoke once more。
〃Then； royal Egypt； my word to Antony is word of W