"Can you tell what brought them here?" Memnon asked.
"They left Athens in search of Artemisia, as all Athens knows," Thais returned.
Her answer had substantiated the story of the prisoners. Memnon turned inquiringly to Orontobates.
"It may be that this is some trick," the Persian said softly, in his own tongue. "Who knows that they have not concerted this story for this occasion?"
"My lord's suspicion is just," Thais returned, smiling upon Orontobates and addressing him in his own language; "but he will observe that I have not seen these men since they left Athens, and, indeed, I did not know they were here."
"Then why did you come here yourself?" Orontobates asked, returning her smile.
"I came because I learned that Artemisia was here, and I, too, wished to find her," Thais replied.
Orontobates shook his head incredulously. "If this young woman, for whom all Athens seems to be seeking, is here in Halicarnassus, doubtless she can be found," he remarked.
"My lord is right," Thais said quietly, "for I have found her."
"Shall we send for her?" Memnon asked, turning to Orontobates, who sat thoughtfully stroking his beard, "or shall we set the prisoners free?"