CHAPTER VII
QUEEN BERENICE
He walked very rapidly in the hope of overtaking Chrysis on the road leading to the city, fearing if he lingered that he might become cowardly and irresolute once again.
The road, white with heat, was so luminous that Demetrios closed his eyes as if he had been in the midday sunlight. In that way he walked without seeing where he was going, and he had only just escaped colliding with four black slaves who were walking in front of a cortège when a little musical voice softly said—
“Beloved! how glad I am!”
He lifted his head: it was Queen Berenice reclining in her litter.
She ordered the bearers to stop and stretched out her arms to her lover.
Demetrios was much annoyed; but he could not refuse, so he slipped into the litter, with a sullen air.