“And who and what art thou, Egyptian—­for Egyptian I see thou art—­who darest to smite my slave when I make progress through my city?”

“I am Harmachis,” I answered boldly.  “Harmachis, the astrologer, adopted son of the High Priest and Governor of Abouthis, who am come hither to seek my fortune.  I smote thy slave, O Queen, because for no fault he struck down the woman yonder.  Ask of those who saw, royal Egypt.”

“Harmachis,” she said, “the name has a high sound—­and thou hast a high look;” and then, speaking to a soldier who had seen all, she bade him tell her what had come to pass.  This he did truthfully, being friendly disposed towards me because I had overcome the Nubian.  Thereon she turned and spoke to the girl bearing the fan who stood beside her—­a woman with curling hair and shy dark eyes, very beautiful to see.  The girl answered somewhat.  Then Cleopatra bade them bring the slave to her.  So they led forward the giant, who had found his breath again, and with him the woman whom he had smitten down.

“Thou dog!” she said, in the same low voice; “thou coward! who, being strong, didst smite down this woman, and, being a coward, wast overthrown of this young man.  See, thou, I will teach thee manners.  Henceforth, when thou smitest women it shall be with thy left arm.  Ho, guards, seize this black slave and strike off his right hand.”

Her command given, she sank back in her golden chariot, and again the cloud gathered in her eyes.  But the guards seized the giant, and, notwithstanding his cries and prayers for mercy, struck off his hand with a sword upon the wood of the scaffolding and he was carried away groaning.  Then the procession moved on again.  As it went the fair woman with the fan turned her head, caught my eye, and smiled and nodded as though she rejoiced, at which I wondered somewhat.

The people cheered also and made jests, saying that I should soon practice astrology in the palace.  But, as soon as we might, I and my uncle escaped, and made our way back to the house.  All the while he rated me for my rashness; but when we came to the chamber of the house he embraced me and rejoiced greatly, because I had overthrown the giant with so little hurt to myself.

CHAPTER II

OF THE COMING OF CHARMION; AND OF THE WRATH OF SEPA

That same night, while we sat at supper in the house, there came a knock upon the door.  It was opened, and a woman passed in wrapped from head to foot in a large dark peplos or cloak in such fashion that her face could not be clearly seen.

My uncle rose, and as he did so the woman uttered the secret word.

“I am come, my father,” she said in a sweet clear voice, “though of a truth it was not easy to escape the revels at the palace yonder.  But I told the Queen that the sun and the riot in the streets had made me sick, and she let me go.”