in this one
girl's hand lie all our lives: and if she play us false, what then?
Alas! and alas! that we must use such tools as these! But it was
needful: there was no other way; and yet I misdoubted me. I pray that it
may be well; still, at times, I fear my niece Charmion--she is too fair,
and the blood of youth runs too warm in those blue veins of hers.

"Ah, woe to the cause that builds its strength upon a woman's faith;
for women are faithful only where they love, and when they love their
faithlessness becomes their faith. They are not fixed as men are fixed:
they rise more high and sink more low--they are strong and changeful as
the sea. Harmachis, beware of this Charmion: for, like the ocean, she
may float thee home; or, like the ocean, she may wreck thee, and, with
thee, the hope of Egypt!"

CHAPTER III

OF THE COMING OF HARMACHIS TO THE PALACE; OF HOW HE DREW PAULUS THROUGH
THE GATES; OF CLEOPATRA SLEEPING; AND OF THE MAGIC OF HARMACHIS WHICH HE
SHOWED HER

Thus it came to pass that on the next day I arrayed myself in a long and
flowing robe, after the fashion of a magician or astrologer. I placed a
cap on my head, about which were broidered images of the stars, and in
my belt a scribe's palette and a roll of papyrus written over with magic
spells and signs. In my hand I held a wand of ebony, tipped with ivory,
such as is used by priests and masters of magic. Among these, indeed,
I took high rank, filling my knowledge of their secrets which I had
learned at Annu what I lacked in that skill which comes from use. And so
with no small shame, for I love not such play and hold this common
magic in contempt, I set forth through the Bruchium to the palace on the
Lochias, being guided on my way by my uncle Sepa. At length, passing
up the avenue of sphinxes, we came to the great marble gateway and the
gates of bronze, within which is the guard-house. Here my uncle left me,
breathing many prayers for my safety and success. But I advanced with
an easy air to the gate, where I was roughly challenged by the Gallic
sentries, and asked of my name, following, and business. I gave my name,
Harmachis, the astrologer, saying that my business was with the Lady
Charmion, the Queen's lady. Thereon the man made as though to let me
pass in, when a captain of the guard, a Roman named Paulus, came forward
and forbade it. Now, this Paulus was a large limbed man, with a woman's
face, and a hand that shook from wine-bibbing. Still he