Sardou's Cleopatra — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

SARDOUW SS CLEOPATRA. 139 Like a flash, he brought his bow into position and sent an arrow whizzing into the clear ether. As fate would have it, however, his fears were realized. The eagle was unhurt, and with one startled cry abandoned its prey and sailed proudly away into the distance. The shaft had struck the ibis squarely in the breast, and, like a falling star, it flashed through the air and struck heavily upon the roof just within the parapet. For a moment all were stricken with horror. Even Cleopatra shuddered at the enormity of the offense committed. Then, without a word, she motioned Kephren to bring her the bird. With white face the captain of the guard obeyed. ‘Tenderly the queen received the sacred bird, its silvery plumage all dabbled in blood, and its bright eyes already dimmed with the film of. death. Yes, beneath one of its wings was fastened a tiny roll of papyrus. Wia$th trembling hands Cleopatra unloosed it; then laying the ill-fated ibis reverently upon the couch, she hastened past Charmian and Iras, who, still horrified at the sac- rilege, were close clasped in one another’s arms, and, approaching one of the blazing torches, un- rolled the parchment. vie paalatitians Cane -—€omicbooks (G 2) =