Sardou's Cleopatra — page 151: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

—_ 136 “7™" —- SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. “What I have inscribed here,” said Cleopatra, at last, handing back the tablets, “must be faith- . fully followed out each day, as if they were orders emanating from the moment. Our neighbors are at peace with us, and the people are tranquil. I can, without imprudence, abandon the city. But it must be believed that I am here, in this palace. When the priests come to-morrow, you yourself receive them. Tell them that I am ill to death, that fever is consuming me, that I detest the sight of all my subjects, that my reason is wandering. Strike your breast, and pretend to weep.” ‘It will be sincere, alas !’’ said Charmian, sadly. “Tf you leave me, I shall have plenty of real tears.” “Vou will reign in my place, Charmian,” con- tinued Cleopatra, allowing the interruption to pass unnoticed. ‘No one will ever believe that I would depart without you. No, you will remain; that is the best means to conceal my absence.” But Charmian was determined to be heard, A’ woman of a hard, cold, skeptical nature, as far as | all others were concerned, she loved the queen de- votedly, and, if words of hers could do aught to prevent this mad undertaking, she was determined to speak them, even if by so doing she incutred Cleopatra’s anger, comicbooks.co