“I am going to take you as the men of the mountain countries take their wives,” he whispered fiercely, and she felt his hot breath upon her cheek.
Frantically she struggled to gain her freedom, succeeding at times in striking sharp blows upon his face, but still he held her in a vise-like grip. Her desperate struggles merely strengthened his determination to conquer her, but when she realized the impotence of her resistance, she resorted to the use of the most effective weapon a woman can employ. In scathing tones she reminded him of the dissipations of his youth, of the disgrace of his father and ended with a direct accusation of the ostracism of Themistocles, thus denying any belief in the assurances with which he had opened conversation with her upon entering the garden. Suddenly his hold relaxed. He pushed her from him and arose from the bench and there was a cold glint in the eyes that a moment before had burned with the light of desire.
“Very well,” he said, and his tones were clearly cut and even, “the fair Agariste to whom my attentions are not unwelcome will accompany me to Thrace.”
He turned and left her, a pitiful drooping figure. Her posture remained the same for some moments after he had gone, and so preoccupied was she that she did not hear Asia re-enter the garden and seat herself beside her.
“My poor dear girl, that man is a brute,” remarked Asia indignantly. “At any rate you can rejoice that he will molest you no more. I could not help hearing some of the things he said, and I hope he and his Agariste will meet no delays in getting away from Athens. Why do you not laugh at your good fortune, foolish girl? One would think from your crestfallen appearance that you loved the man!”
Ladice looked up and smiled faintly through her tears as she said, “Asia, I believe I do!”
“You do love him! that beast that makes three-headed Cerberus look like a lamb!” cried Asia. “Ladice, you must be crazy! Grief over my poor father and the excitement of the past hour have unbalanced your mind. Come let me get you to bed, though there is yet another hour before set of sun.”
“No Asia, I could not rest,” said the grief-stricken girl. “Please leave me. The garden is so beautiful and I wish to be alone with my thoughts.”
Asia left her reluctantly making her promise to retire early.
Once more alone Ladice marvelled at the change that had come over her. From a cold, indifferent girl she had changed into a passionate, loving woman. The love must have come when she lay helpless in his arms, she reasoned, but it was not a vital thing till he spoke the words that stung her pride. How different was this love from that which she had felt for the Persian, Masistius! That had been like a clear and steady light; this was a fire that leaped wildly while it consumed. At times she smiled at the memory of his kisses, then clenched her hands as she thought of the unknown Agariste.