at. He had not recognized Roxana, but spoke one name many
times--"Hermione!" And the Egyptian, understanding too well, went to her
own tent weeping bitterly.

"He has forsaken us," spoke Artazostra, harshly, to her husband. "He has
paid kindness with disloyalty. He has chosen the lot of his desperate race
rather than princely state amongst the Aryans. Your sister is in agony."

"And I with her," returned the bow-bearer, gravely, "but let us not forget
one thing--this man has saved our lives. And all else weighs small in the
balance."

When Mardonius went to him, Glaucon was again himself. He lay on bright
pillows, his forehead swathed in linen. His eyes were unnaturally bright.

"You know what has befallen?" asked Mardonius.

"They have told me. I almost alone of all the Hellenes have not been
called to the heroes' Elysium, to the glory of Theseus and Achilles, the
glory that shall not die. Yet I am content. For plainly the Olympians have
destined that I should see and do great things in Hellas, otherwise they
would not have kept me back from Leonidas's glory."

The Athenian's voice rang confidently. None of the halting weakness
remained that had made it falter once when Mardonius asked him, "Will your
Hellenes fight?" He spoke as might one returned crowned with the victor's
laurel.

"And wherefore are you grown so bold?" The bow-bearer was troubled as he
looked on him. "Nobly you and your handful fought. We Persians honour the
brave, and full honour we give to you. But was it not graven upon the
stars what should befall? Were not Leonidas, his men, and you all mad--"

"Ah, yes! divinely mad." Brighter still grew the Athenian's eyes. "For
that moment of exultation when we charged to meet the king I would again
pay a lifetime."

"Yet the gateway of Hellas is unlocked. Your bravest are fallen. Your land
is defenceless. What else can be written hereafter save, 'The Hellenes
strove with fierce courage to fling back Xerxes. Their valour was
foolishness. The god turned against them. The king prevailed.' "

But Glaucon met the Persian's glance with one more bold.

"No, Mardonius, good friend, for do not think that we must be foes one to
another because our people are at war,--I can answer you with ease.
Leonidas you have slain, and his handful, and you have pierced the
mountain wall of OEta, and no doubt your king's host will march even to
Athens. But do not dream Hellas is conquered by striding over her land.
Befo