“Surely Pharaoh is over-tender, forgetting the greatness of the moment and all that hangs upon this dagger-stroke that shall cut the thread of Cleopatra’s life.  Listen, Harmachis. Thou must do the deed, and thou alone!  Myself I would do it, had my arm the strength; but it has not.  It cannot be done by poison, for every drop she drinks and every morsel that shall touch her lips is strictly tasted by three separate tasters, who cannot be suborned.  Nor may the eunuchs of the guard be trusted.  Two, indeed, are sworn to us; but the third cannot be come at.  He must be cut down afterwards; and, indeed, when so many men must fall, what matters a eunuch more or less?  Thus it shall be, then.  To-morrow night, at three hours before midnight thou dost cast the final augury of the issue of the war.  And then thou wilt, as is agreed, descend alone with me, having the signet, to the outer chamber of the Queen’s apartment.  For the vessel bearing orders to the Legions sails from Alexandria at the following dawn; and alone with Cleopatra, since she wills that the thing be kept secret as the sea, thou wilt read the message of the stars.  And as she pores over the papyrus, then must thou stab her in the back, so that she dies; and see thou that thy will and arm fail thee not!  The deed being done—­and indeed it will be easy—­thou wilt take the signet and pass out to where the eunuch is—­for the others will be wanting.  If by any chance there is trouble with him—­but there will be no trouble, for he dare not enter the private rooms, and the sounds of death cannot reach so far—­thou must cut him down.  Then I will meet thee; and, passing on, we will come to Paulus, and it shall be my care to see that he is neither drunk nor backward, for I know how to hold him to the task.  And he and those with him shall throw open the side gate, when Sepa and the five hundred chosen men who are in waiting shall pour in and cast themselves upon the sleeping legionaries, putting them to the sword.  Why, the thing is easy so thou rest true to thyself, and let no womanish fears creep into thy heart.  What is this dagger’s thrust?  It is nothing, and yet upon it hang the destinies of Egypt and the world.”

“Hush!” I said.  “What is that?—­I hear a sound.”

Charmion ran to the door, and, gazing down the long, dark passage, listened.  In a moment she came back, her finger on her lips.  “It is the Queen,” she whispered hurriedly; “the Queen who mounts the stair alone.  I heard her bid Iras to leave her.  I may not be found alone with thee at this hour; it has a strange look, and she may suspect.  What wants she here?  Where can I hide?”

I glanced round.  At the further end of the chamber was a heavy curtain that hid a little place built in the thickness of the wall which I used for the storage of rolls and instruments.

“Haste thee—­there!” I said, and she glided behind the curtain, which swung back and covered her.  Then I thrust the fatal scroll of death into the bosom of my robe and bent over the mystic chart.  Presently I heard the sweep of woman’s robes and there came a low knock upon the door.