He paused, for his sudden burst of passion had spent itself.  But by it, more clearly than before, I saw how deep a heart this man had beneath the cloak of his merriness and simplicity of mien, and how fiercely the mind within him was set upon his aim.  As for the girl, she shrank from him terrified, and, placing her hands before her sweet face, began to weep.

“Nay, speak not so, my father,” she said, between her sobs; “for what have I done?  I know nothing of the evil wandering of thy dreams.  I am no soothsayer that I should read dreams.  Have I not carried out all things according to thy desire?  Have I not been ever mindful of that dread oath?”—­and she trembled.  “Have I not played the spy and told thee all?  Have I not won the heart of the Queen, so that she loves me as a sister, refusing me nothing—­ay, and the hearts of those about her?  Why dost thou affright me thus with thy words and threats?” and she wept afresh, looking even more beautiful in her sorrow than she was before.

“Enough, enough,” he answered; “what I have said, I have said.  Be warned, and affront our sight no more with this wanton dress.  Thinkest thou that we would feed our eyes upon those rounded arms—­we whose stake is Egypt and who are dedicated to the Gods of Egypt?  Girl, behold thy cousin and thy King!”

She ceased weeping, wiping her eyes with her chiton, and I saw that they seemed but the softer for her tears.

“Methinks, most royal Harmachis, and beloved Cousin,” she said, as she bent before me, “that we are already made acquainted.”

“Yea, Cousin,” I answered, not without shamefacedness, for I had never before spoken to so fair a maid; “thou wert in the chariot with Cleopatra this day when I struggled with the Nubian?”

“Assuredly,” she said, with a smile and a sudden lighting of the eyes, “it was a gallant fight and gallantly didst thou overthrow that black brute.  I saw the fray and, though I knew thee not, I greatly feared for one so brave.  But I paid him for my fright, for it was I who put it into the mind of Cleopatra to bid the guards strike off his hand—­now, knowing who thou art, I would I had said his head.”  And she looked up shooting a glance at me and then smiled.

“Enough,” put in my uncle Sepa, “the time draws on.  Tell thou thy mission, Charmion, and be gone.”

Then her manner changed; she folded her hands meekly before her and spoke: 

“Let Pharaoh hearken to his handmaiden.  I am the daughter of Pharaoh’s uncle, the brother of his father, who is now long dead, and therefore in my veins also flows the Royal blood of Egypt.  Also I am of the ancient Faith, and hate these Greeks, and to see thee set upon the throne has been my dearest hope now for many years.  To this end I, Charmion, have put aside my rank and become serving-woman to Cleopatra, that I might cut a notch in which thou couldst set thy foot when the hour came for thee to climb the throne.  And, Pharaoh, the notch is cut.