CHAPTERIV
OFTHEMEETINGOFCHARMIONWITHTHELEARNEDOLYMPUS；OFHER
SPEECHWITHHIM；OFTHECOMINGOFOLYMPUSINTOTHE
PRESENCEOFCLEOPATRA；ANDOFTHECOMMANDSOFCLEOPATRA。
Cladinmyplainblackrobe，Isatintheguest-chamberofthehousethathadbeenmadereadyforme。Isatinacarvenlion-footedchair，andlookedupontheswinginglampsofscentedoil，thepicturedtapestries，therichSyrianrugs——and，amidstallthisluxury，bethoughtmeofthattomboftheHarperswhichisatTápé，andoftheninelongyearsofdarklonelinessandpreparation。Isat；andcroucheduponarugneartothedoor，laytheagedAtoua。Herhairwaswhiteassnow，andshrivelledwithagewasthewrinkledcountenanceofthewomanwho，whenalldesertedme，hadyetclungtome，inhergreatloveforgettingmygreatsins。Nineyears！ninelongyears！andnow，onceagain，IsetmyfootinAlexandria！OnceagainintheappointedcircleofthingsIcameforthfromthesolitudeofpreparationtobeafatetoCleopatra；andthissecondtimeIcamenotforthtofail。