"Maia is safe enough," she returned, raising her head proudly.
"But where is she?" he persisted.
She hesitated and her eyes fell. A warm flush mounted to her cheeks.
"I bought her place," she murmured, "and you have bought me."
The Theban stared a moment in bewilderment, but as her meaning dawned upon him he threw back his head and laughed, a little recklessly. Thais bit her lip and then suddenly burst into tears.
CHAPTER XI
THAIS
Chares sat in the house of Thais in Athens, idly watching the lithe motions of the tame leopard as it worried an ivory ball. Its mistress lay at full length on a low couch of sandalwood looking at the Theban with eyes half closed.
"What are you going to do with me?" she asked.