“Do ye of the highest rank always seek wives from beyond the seas?”
“With one exception,” he replied, “thou art the only stranger who has entered our walls since their foundation.”
“Then are all your women dead—are none of queenly rank left?”
“There are more of them than of us.”
“Are they not beautiful?”
For answer he led her into a building which seemed to be a kind of temple. He unlocked a massive gate, and conducted her into a well-lighted apartment. In the middle was placed the statue of a most beautiful woman.
“Such,” he said, “are our women by nature. Greece has rarely produced such wonders of form and grace.”
From the statue Daphne turned to the walls, which seemed to be covered with statuary and paintings, and she started back terrified.
A horrible fascination made her stare at the works, and her eyes drank in the meaning of the artist in a moment.
All the highest skill of the painter and sculptor had apparently been exercised to pour contempt upon women.