"Send all away except the two warriors who hold him," commanded Nemone.
"You may send them, too, if you wish," said Tarzan; "I give you my word not to harm you or try to escape while they are away."
Nemone, still looking straight ahead, was silent for a moment; then, "You may all go; I would speak with the prisoner alone."
When the guard had departed a number of paces, the Queen turned her eyes toward Tarzan and found his smiling into her own. "You are going to be very happy, Nemone," he said in an easy, friendly voice.
"What do you mean?" she asked. "How am I going to be happy?"
"You are going to see me die; that is if the lion catches me," he laughed, "and you like to see people die."
"You think that will give me pleasure? Well, I thought so myself; but now I am wondering if it will. I never get quite the pleasure from death that I anticipate I shall; nothing in life is ever what I hope for."
"Possibly you don't hope for the right things," he suggested. "Did you ever try hoping for something that would bring pleasure and happiness to some one beside yourself?"
"Why should I?" she asked. "I hope for my own happiness; let others do the same. I strive for my own happiness—"
"And never have any," interrupted the ape-man good-naturedly.