“Nay,” I said, turning from that fair temptress, “the price is too heavy; I kiss no more.”

“Bethink thee,” she answered, with a heavy frown.  “Bethink thee and choose.  I am but a woman, Harmachis, and one who is not wont to sue to men.  Do as thou wilt; but this I say to thee—­if thou dost put me away, I will gather up the mercy I have meted out.  Therefore, most virtuous priest, choose thou between the heavy burden of my love and the swift death of thy aged father and of all those who plotted with him.”

I glanced at her and saw that she was angered, for her eyes shone and her bosom heaved.  So, I sighed and kissed her, thereby setting the seal upon my shame and bondage.  Then, smiling like the triumphant Aphrodite of the Greeks, she went thence, bearing the dagger with her.

I knew not yet how deeply I was betrayed; or why I was still left to draw the breath of life; or why Cleopatra, the tiger-hearted, had grown merciful.  I did not know that she feared to slay me, lest, so strong was the plot and so feeble her hold upon the Double Crown, the tumult that might tread hard upon the tidings of my murder should shake her from the throne—­even when I was no more.  I did not know that because of fear and the weight of policy only she showed scant mercy to those whom I had betrayed, or that because of cunning and not for the holy sake of woman’s love—­though, in truth, she liked me well enough—­she chose rather to bind me to her by the fibres of my heart.  And yet I will say this in her behalf:  even when the danger-cloud had melted from her sky she kept faith, nor, save Paulus and one other, did any suffer the utmost penalty of death for their part in the great plot against Cleopatra’s crown and dynasty.  But they suffered many other things.

And so she went, leaving the vision of her glory to strive with the shame and sorrow in my heart.  Oh, bitter were the hours that could not now be made light with prayer.  For the link between me and the Divine was snapped, and Isis communed with Her Priest no more.  Bitter were the hours and dark, but ever through their darkness shone the starry eyes of Cleopatra, and came the echo of her whispered love.  For not yet was the cup of sorrow full.  Hope still lingered in my heart, and I could almost think that I had failed to some higher end, and that in the depths of ruin I should find another and more flowery path to triumph.

For thus those who sin deceive themselves, striving to lay the burden of their evil deeds upon the back of Fate, striving to believe their wickedness may compass good, and to murder Conscience with the sharp plea of Necessity.  But it can avail nothing, for hand in hand down the path of sin rush Remorse and Ruin, and woe to him they follow!  Ay, and woe to me who of all sinners am the chief!

CHAPTER IX

OF THE IMPRISONMENT OF HARMACHIS; OF THE SCORN OF CHARMION; OF THE SETTING FREE OF HARMACHIS; AND OF THE COMING OF QUINTUS DELLIUS