Sardou's Cleopatra — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. 165 “It is for me,” he said, “to implore that pardon. Gentle Octavia, yours is the triumph. Go, as an envoy of peace, from me to Octavius, and bring back to me a decisive answer.” Octavia’s soft blue eyes shone with a happy light. “And the war-beacon will not be lighted ?” “T will make no move until your return. I have been but a poor mate for you, Octavia, but hereafter all shall be atoned for. If the answer you bring is a favorable one, from to-morrow Ceesar and I are one.” He embraced Octavia tenderly, and watched her until she had descended below the brow of the declivity ; then, ordering Ventidius and the other two, who had been curiously watching the inter- view at a little distance, to follow him, he strode rapidly toward the house, without one further glance at the sea he had been eagerly scanning for so many days. Why was it that Ventidius’ countenance showed. but little of the delight that should naturally have appeared there at the success of Octavia’s mission ? Although the sky above was sunny, there was a little cloud upon the horizon that presaged a storm; for upon that horizon the still, keen eyes (E(0) = E€Comichbooks a mn