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and thine alone！〃
Then Charmion took me by the hand and drew me thence。
〃Hast seen enough？〃 she asked； when we were once more within the
chamber and the lamp was lit。
〃Yea；〃 I answered； 〃my eyes are opened。〃
CHAPTER XVI
OF THE PLAN OF CHARMION； OF THE CONFESSION OF CHARMION； AND
OF THE ANSWER OF HARMACHIS
For some while I sat with bowed head； and the last bitterness of shame
sank into my soul。 This； then； was the end。 For this I had betrayed my
oaths； for this I had told the secret of the pyramid； for this I had
lost my Crown； my Honour； and； perchance； my hope of Heaven！ Could
there be another man in the wide world so steeped in sorrow as I was
that night？ Surely not one！ Where should I turn？ What could I do？ And
even through the tempest of my torn heart the bitter voice of jealousy
called aloud。 For I loved this woman； to whom I had given all； and she
at this momentshe was Ah！ I could not bear to think of it； and
in my utter agony； my heart burst in a river of tears such as are
terrible to weep！
Then Charmion drew near me； and I saw that she； too； was weeping。
〃Weep not； Harmachis！〃 she sobbed； kneeling at my side。 〃I cannot
endure to see thee weep。 Oh！ why wouldst thou not be warned？ Then
hadst thou been great and happy； and not as now。 Listen； Harmachis！
Thou didst hear what that false and tigerish woman saidto…morrow she
hands thee over to the murderers！〃
〃It is well；〃 I gasped。
〃Nay： it is not well。 Harmachis； give her not this last triumph over
thee。 Thou hast lost all save life： but while life remains； hope
remains also； and with hope the chance of vengeance。〃
〃Ah！〃 I said； starting from my seat。 〃I had not thought of that。 Ay
the chance of vengeance！ It would be sweet to be avenged！〃
〃It would be sweet； Harmachis； and yet thisVengeance is an arrow
that in falling oft pierces him who shot it。 MyselfI know it；〃 and
she sighed。 〃But a truce to talk and grief。 There will be time for us
twain to grieve； if not to talk； in all the heavy coming years。 Thou
must flybefore the coming of the light must thou fly。 Here is a
plan。 To…morrow； ere the dawn； a galley that but yesterday came from
Alexandria； bearing fruit and stores； sails thither again； and its
captain is known to me； but to thee he is not known。 Now； I will find
thee the garb of a Syrian merchant； and cloak thee； as I know how； and
furnish thee with a letter to the captain of the galley。 He shall give
thee passage to Alexandria； for to him thou wilt seem but as a
merchant going on the business of thy trade。 Brennus is officer of the
guard to…night； and Brennus is a friend to me and thee。 Perhaps he
will guess somewhat； or； perhaps； he will not guess； at the least； the
Syrian merchant shall safely pass the lines。 What sayest thou？〃
〃It is well；〃 I answered wearily； 〃little do I reck the issue。〃
〃Rest thou； then； here； Harmachis； while I make these matters ready；
and； Harmachis； grieve not overmuch； there are others who should
grieve more heavily than thou。〃 And she went； leaving me alone with my
agony which rent me like a torture…bed。 Had it not been for that
fierce desire of vengeance which from time to time flashed across my
tormented mind as the lightning over a midnight sea； methinks my
reason had left me in that dark hour。 At length I heard her footstep
at the door； and she entered； breathing heavily； for she bore a sack
of clothing in her arms。
〃It is well；〃 she said： 〃here is the garb with spare linen； and
writing…tablets； and all things needful。 I have seen Brennus also； and
told him that a Syrian merchant would pass the guard an hour before
the dawn。 And though he made pretence of sleep； I think he understood；
for he answered； yawning； that if they but had the pass…word；
'Antony；' fifty Syrian merchants might go through about their lawful
business。 And here is the letter to the captainthou canst not
mistake the galley； for she is moored along to the righta small
galley； painted black； as thou dost enter on the great quay； and；
moreover； the sailors make ready for sailing。 Now I will wait here
without； while thou dost put off the livery of thy service and array
thyself。〃
When she was gone I tore off my gorgeous garments and spat upon them
and trod them on the ground。 Then I put on the modest robe of a
merchant； and bound the tablets round me； on my feet the sandals of
untanned hide； and at my waist the knife。 When it was done Charmion
entered once again and looked on me。
〃Too much art thou still the royal Harmachis；〃 she said； 〃see； it must
be changed。〃
Then she took scissors from her tiring…table； and； bidding me be
seated； she cut off my locks； clipping the hair close to the head。
Next she found stains of such sort as women use to make dark the eyes；
and mixed them cunningly； rubbing the stuff on my face and hands and
on the white mark in my hair where the sword of Brennus had bitten to
the bone。
〃Now thou art changedsomewhat for the worse； Harmachis；〃 she said；
with a dreary laugh； 〃scarce myself should I know thee。 Stay； there is
one more thing；〃 and； going to a chest of garments； she drew thence a
heavy bag of gold。
〃Take thou this；〃 she said； 〃thou wilt have need of money。〃
〃I cannot take thy gold； Charmion。〃
〃Yes； take it。 It was Sepa who gave it to me for the furtherance of
our cause； and therefore it is fitting that thou shouldst spend it。
Moreover； if I want money； doubtless Antony； who is henceforth my
master； will give me more； he is much beholden to me； and this he
knows well。 There； waste not the precious time in haggling o'er the
pelfnot yet art thou all a merchant； Harmachis；〃 and； without more
words； she thrust the pieces into the leather bag that hung across my
shoulders。 Then she made fast the sack containing the spare garments；
and； so womanly thoughtful was she； placed in it an alabaster jar of
pigment； with which I might stain my countenance afresh； and； taking
the broidered robes of my office that I had cast off； hid them in the
secret passage。 And so at last all was made ready。
〃Is it time that I should go；〃 I asked。
〃Not yet a while。 Be patient； Harmachis； for but one little hour more
must thou endure my presence； and then； perchance； farewell for ever。〃
I made a gesture signifying that this was no time for sharp words。
〃Forgive me my quick tongue；〃 she said； 〃but from a salt spring bitter
waters well。 Be seated； Harmachis； I have heavier words to speak to
thee before thou goest。〃
〃Say on；〃 I answered； 〃words； however heavy； can move me no more。〃
She stood before me with folded hands； and the lamp…light shone upon
her beauteous face。 I noticed idly how great was its pallor and how
wide and dark were the rings about the deep black eyes。 Twice she
lifted her white face and strove to speak； twice her voice failed her；
and when at last it came it was in a hoarse whisper。
〃I cannot let thee go；〃 she said〃I cannot let thee go unwitting of
the truth。
〃/Harmachis； 'twas I who did betray thee！/〃
I sprang to my feet； an oath upon my lips； but she caught me by the
hand。
〃Oh； be seated；〃 she said〃be seated and hear me； then； when thou
hast heart； do to me as thou wilt。 Listen。 From that evil moment when；
in the presence of thy uncle Sepa； for the second time I set eyes upon
thy face； I loved theehow much； thou canst little guess。 Think upon
thine own love for Cleopatra； and double it； and double it again； and
perchance thou mayst come near to my love's mighty sum。 I loved thee；
day by day I loved thee more； till in thee and for thee alone I seemed
to live。 But thou wast coldthou wast worse than cold！ thou didst
deal with me not as a breathing woman； but rather as the instrument to
an endas a tool with which to grave thy fortunes。 And then I saw
yes； long before thou knewest it thyselfthy heart's tide was setting
strong towards that ruinous shore whereon to…day thy life is broken。
And at last that night came； that dreadful night when； hid within the
chamber； I saw thee cast my kerchief to the winds； and with sweet
words cherish my royal Rival's gift。 Thenoh； thou knowestin my
pain I betrayed the secret that thou wouldst not see； and thou didst
make a mock of me； Harmachis！ Oh！ the shame of itthou in thy
foolishness didst make a mock of me！ I went thence； and within me were
rising all the torments which can tear a woman's heart； for now I was
sure that thou didst love Cleopatra！ Ay； and so mad was I； even that
night I was minded to betray thee： but I thoughtnot yet； not yet；
to…morrow he may soften。 Then came the morrow； and all was ready for
the bursting of the great plot that should make thee Pharaoh。 And I
too camethou dost rememberand again thou didst put me away when I
spake to thee in parables； as something of little worthas a thing
too small to claim a moment's weighty thought。 And； knowing t