r to the captain of the galley. He shall give
thee passage to Alexandria; for to him thou wilt seem but as a merchant
going on the business of thy trade. Brennus is officer of the guard
to-night, and Brennus is a friend to me and thee. Perhaps he will guess
somewhat; or, perhaps, he will not guess; at the least, the Syrian
merchant shall safely pass the lines. What sayest thou?"

"It is well," I answered wearily; "little do I reck the issue."

"Rest thou, then, here, Harmachis, while I make these matters ready;
and, Harmachis, grieve not overmuch; there are others who should grieve
more heavily than thou." And she went, leaving me alone with my agony
which rent me like a torture-bed. Had it not been for that fierce desire
of vengeance which from time to time flashed across my tormented mind
as the lightning over a midnight sea, methinks my reason had left me
in that dark hour. At length I heard her footstep at the door, and she
entered, breathing heavily, for she bore a sack of clothing in her arms.

"It is well," she said: "here is the garb with spare linen, and
writing-tablets, and all things needful. I have seen Brennus also, and
told him that a Syrian merchant would pass the guard an hour before the
dawn. And though he made pretence of sleep, I think he understood, for
he answered, yawning, that if they but had the pass-word, 'Antony,'
fifty Syrian merchants might go through about their lawful business. And
here is the letter to the captain--thou canst not mistake the galley,
for she is moored along to the right--a small galley, painted black, as
thou dost enter on the great quay, and, moreover, the sailors make ready
for sailing. Now I will wait here without, while thou dost put off the
livery of thy service and array thyself."

When she was gone I tore off my gorgeous garments and spat upon them and
trod them on the ground. Then I put on the modest robe of a merchant,
and bound the tablets round me, on my feet the sandals of untanned hide,
and at my waist the knife. When it was done Charmion entered once again
and looked on me.

"Too much art thou still the royal Harmachis," she said; "see, it must
be changed."

Then she took scissors from her tiring-table, and, bidding me be seated,
she cut off my locks, clipping the hair close to the head. Next she
found stains of such sort as women use to make dark the eyes, and mixed
them cunningly, rubbing the stuff on my face and hands and on the white
mark in my hair