The sun., 1889-02-17
Most noble sIrl thou shalt die by sword thrusts

| And no SUNK OH = shortly atterward, as IL
chanced. TO meet this very fate. For he was
sent on service and slain in Cyprus.
Now for thee, great Captain |" said, speak
ing to Paulus. II will show thee how will
pass those gates without thy leave-ay. and
draw thee through them after me. Be pleased
to fix thy princely gaze upon the point Of this
| wand In my hand"
Being urged thereto by his comrades, this he
| did, not willingly; and let him gaze till saw
his eyes grow empty as an owls eyes in the
| sun. Then suddenly I withdrew the wand, and.
| shifting my own countenance into the place of
| II, seized him with my will and stare. and.
beginning to turn round and round. drew him
after me. his face, force and drawn. nxed as it
were. almost TO my own. Then slowly moved
backward till / had passed the gates, still
drawing him after me. and having passed. l
| jerked my head away. But he felled to the
ground, to rise wiping his brow and looking
exceeding foolish.
Art thou content, most noble Captain ?" 1
said. Thou seest we have passed the gates.
| Would any other noble sir hero present wish
| that should show more OF my skill 2"
by Taranis Lord of Thunder, and all tho
Gods OF Olympus thrown In, mol" growled an
old Centurion. a Gaul named Brennus 81 like
| thee not, say. Tho man who could drag our
| Paulus through those gates by tho eye, as 1t
| were is not man to play with. Paulus, too,
| who always goes the way you don't want him
| backward. like an ass-Paulusl Why. sirrah,
| thou must have a woman In one eye and
wine cup in the other to draw our Paulus thus"
| At this moment the talk was broken. for.
| coming down the marble walk. followed by an
armed slave. was Charmion herself. She
walked calm and careless. her hands folded
behind her and her eyes gazing at nothing
moss. as 1t were. But 1t was when Charmion
thus looked upon nothing that she saw most.
| And as she came the officers and men Of the
| guard made way for her bowling. for. rs I
learned afterward, this girl. next to Cleopatra's
| self. welded more power than any ono about
the palace.
What Is this tumult, Brennus ?" she said.
speaking to the Centurion, and making rs IL
she saw mo not: "knowest thou not that tho
Queen sleeps at this hour. and If she be awak-
ened it il thou who must answer for it. and
that dearly 7"
Nay, Lady, said the Centurion humbly:
but 1t is thus. We have here and he jerked
his thumb toward me-"a magician Of the
most pestilent-um, crave his pardon, of the
very best sort. for he hath but just now. only
by placing his eyes close to the nose Of the
worthy Captain Paulus dragged him. the said
Paulus. through the gates that Pauus swore
the magician should not pass By the same
token Lady. the magician says he has business
with you-which grieves me for your sake"
Charmion turned and looked at me careless
ly. "Ay,I I remember" she said; and 80 he
hath-at least the Queen would see his tricks:
but If he can do none better than cause a sot"
here she cast glance Of scorn at the Won
dering PaulusI'to follow his nose through
the gates he guards. he had better 90 whence
he came. Follow me. Sir Magician; and for
thee. Brennus I say. keep thy rlotous crew
more quiet. For thee, most honorable Paulus.
get thee sober, and next time am asked for
at the gates give him who asks hearing"
And with queenly nod of her small head she
turned and led the way. followed at distance
by myself and the armed slave.
We passed UP the marble walk which runs
through the garden grounds. and is set on
either side with marble statues, for the most
part Of heathen Gods and Goddesses, where
with these LagidR were not ashamed to detlle
their royal dwellings. At length We came to q
portico with futed columns very beautiful to
see but of the Greclan style of art where we
found more guards who made way for the lady
Charmion. Crossing the portico. We reached
an outer marble hall wherein a fountain softly
FLASHED. and thence by q low doorway n second
chamber known as the Alabaster Hall most
beautiful to see. Its roof was upheld by light
columns OF black marble. but all its walls were
paneled with alabaster. whereon were craven
Grecian legends. Its floor was Of rich and
many-hued mosaic that told tho tale of tho
passion of Psyche for the Grecian God of Love.
and about it were set chairs OF ivory and gold.
At the doorway OF this chamber Charmion
bade the armed slave stay so that We passed
in alone, for the place was empty save for two
eunuchs who stood with drawn swords before
the curtains at the further end.
Il am vexed my Lord" she said. speaking
very low and shyly, that thou shouldst have
met with such affronts at the gate; but the
guard there served double watch. and l had
given my commands to the officer Of the COM
pany that should have relieved it. Thoy arc
ever insolent, these Roman officers. who. though
they seem to serve. know well that Egypt is
their plaything. But it is not altogether III. for
these rough soldiers are superstitious. and
hereafter they will fear thee Now bide thou
here while l pass into Cleopatra's chamber.
where she sleeps. But now have l sung her
to sleep. and If she be awakened l will call
thee, for she waits thy coming" And without
moro words she Glided from my side
In little time she returned, and coming to
my side spoke:
"Woudst SEQ the fairest woman in all the
world asleep?" she whispered. IF SO, follow
thou mo. Nay, fear not; when she awakes she
will but laugh. for She bade me be sure to bring
thee instantly, whether she slept or woke. See.
have her signet."
30 We passed up tne Deautllul cnam Der I'LL we
came to where the eunuchs stood with drawn
swords. and these would have barred my en-
try; but Charmion frowned, and drawing the
signet from her bosom held it before their
eyes Thereon. having examined tho writing
that Is on tho ring they bowed, dropping their
sword points. and we passed through the heavy
curtains, broidered o'cr with gold. into tho
resting place of Cleopatra. Beautiful it was
beyond imaGining-beautiful with many col
ored marbles, with gold and ivory, gems and
fos ers-all art can furnish and all luxury can
dream of wore here. Here wore pictures so
real that birds might have pecked tho painted
fruits; here were statues Of woman S loyeliness |
frozen into stone; here wer0 draperics fno |
rs soitest silk. but woven Of II web OF gold; |
hero were couches and carpets such as |
/ never saw. Here tho mir was sweet |
with perfume. while through tho open window |
places camo the lar murmur Of the sea. And !
at the further end Of the chamber on n couch |
of cleaning silk and sheltered bya not of finest |