"Eh—what!" she faltered, flushing crimson at his speech. "Nay, truly, I recall but three—"
"So be it, then," said Menon, with another laugh and still another kiss. "T'is in my mind that when my body had been drowned, and lying helpless in thy power—"
"Beast!" she stormed, in grievous doubt if she should strain him to her heart or take his life; yet Menon lived.
The Governor turned his steed on the backward trail and journeyed till they came in sight of Ascalon; then he slid from the back of Scimitar and walked beside, lest idle shepherds marvel at the strangeness of uncommon things; albeit he still held tight to the maiden's hand.
Semiramis, from her perch, looked down into her lover's eyes, and her spirit sang because of its bubbling joy, for now he was hers—hers!—till the very stars should die; yet, suddenly, she dragged at the bridle rein.
"Wait! What, then, of this minx, Sozana?"
Menon frowned, yet looked upon her steadily.
"Of her," he answered, "thy mind need hold no fear, for I love her not. To-morrow will I leave the service of my King and fly with thee into Arabia. With Prince Boabdul will we there abide, for his love will shield me, even from the wrath of Ninus."
"Now that," spoke Semiramis, thoughtfully, "were the course of a fledgling and a fool." A moment more she pondered, looking up at last. "Tell me, can Ninus conquer Zariaspa, or will he fail again?"
"Zariaspa?" asked Menon, vacantly, wondering how this matter ran with his flight into the desert with a wife. "Zariaspa?"