"She must be pure and beautiful," Mena continued. "It is announced that he who will bring such an offering will do the city a great service."
"What do you mean? Speak out, dog!" Phradates exclaimed, catching an undertone of significance in the Egyptian's voice.
"Thou hast such a maiden," the slave said hesitatingly.
"Thais!" the young man cried. "Never. The city may perish first! Have you dared to suggest this?"
He drew his dagger and made a step toward Mena, who cowered before him with hand uplifted.
"No, no; not Thais," he hastened to say. "Think, master, how could she meet the conditions? Not Thais!"
Phradates paused with the dagger still in his hand.
"Wait until you have heard me?" the slave continued, in a whining voice. "It was not Thais, but the Athenian maiden, who was in my thoughts."
"No!" Phradates thundered; "does not Thais love her as her own sister?"
"Consider for a moment," Mena urged insinuatingly, watching the young man's face with cunning eyes. "Hast thou not been generous toward these captives?"