The Priests and Dignitaries gazed astonished.  Some rose and spoke; some said naught.

“I am that Harmachis!  I am that traitor, trebly steeped in crime!—­a traitor to my Gods, a traitor to my Country, a traitor to my Oath!  I come hither to say that I have done this.  I have executed the Divine vengeance on her who ruined me and gave Egypt to the Roman.  And now that, after years of toil and patient waiting, this is accomplished by my wisdom and the help of the angry Gods, behold I come with all my shame upon my head to declare the thing I am, and take the traitor’s guerdon!”

“Mindest thou of the doom of him who hath broke the oath that may not be broke?” asked he who first had spoken, in heavy tones.

“I know it well,” I answered; “I court that awful doom.”

“Tell us more of this matter, thou who wast Harmachis.”

So, in cold clear words, I laid bare all my shame, keeping back nothing.  And ever as I spoke I saw their faces grow more hard, and knew that for me there was no mercy; nor did I ask it, nor, had I asked, could it have been granted.

When, at last, I had done, they put me aside while they took counsel.  Then they drew me forth again, and the eldest among them, a man very old and venerable, the Priest of the Temple of the Divine Hatshepu at Tape, spoke, in icy accents: 

“Thou Harmachis, we have considered this matter.  Thou hast sinned the threefold deadly sin.  On thy head lies the burden of the woe of Khem, this day enthralled of Rome.  To Isis, the Mother Mystery, thou hast offered the deadly insult, and thou hast broken thy holy oath.  For all of these sins there is, as well thou knowest, but one reward, and that reward is thine.  Naught can it weigh in the balance of our justice that thou hast slain her who was thy cause of stumbling; naught that thou comest to name thyself the vilest thing who ever stood within these walls.  On thee also must fall the curse of Menkau-ra, thou false priest! thou forsworn patriot! thou Pharaoh shameful and discrowned!  Here, where we set the Double Crown upon thy head, we doom thee to the doom!  Go to thy dungeon and await the falling of its stroke!  Go, remembering what thou mightest have been and what thou art, and may those Gods who through thy evil doing shall perchance ere long cease to be worshipped within these holy temples, give to thee that mercy which we deny!  Lead him forth!”

So they took me and led me forth.  With bowed head I went, looking not up, and yet I felt their eyes burn upon my face.

Oh! surely of all my shames this is the heaviest!

CHAPTER X

OF THE LAST WRITING OF HARMACHIS, THE ROYAL EGYPTIAN

They led me to the prison chamber that is high in the pylon tower and here I wait my doom.  I know not when the sword of Fate shall fall.  Week grows to week, and month to month, and still it is delayed.  Still it quivers unseen above my head.  I know that it will fall, but when I know not.  Perchance, I shall wake in some dead hour of midnight to hear the stealthy steps of the slayers and be hurried forth.  Perchance, they are now at hand.  Then will come the secret cell! the horror! the nameless coffin! and at last it will be done!  Oh, let it come! let it come swiftly!