"She is for the thither king, Ar-hap, and though only one as you say,
stranger, yet he who loses her is apt sometimes to think her one too
many lost."

"By Jupiter himself it is well said! If I were that man I would stir
up heaven and hell until I got her back; neither man, nor beast, nor
devil should stay me in my quest!" As I spoke I thought for a minute
An's fingers trembled a little as she fixed a flower upon my coat,
while there was something like a sigh in her voice as she said--

"The maids of this country are not accustomed, sir, to be so strongly
loved."

By this time, breakfasted and rehabilitated, I was ready to go forth.
The girl swung back the heavy curtain that served in place of door across
the entrance of my chamber, and leading the way by a corridor and marble
steps while I followed, and whether it was the Martian air or the meal
I know not, but thinking mighty well of myself until we came presently
onto the main palace stairs, which led by stately flights from the upper
galleries to the wide square below.

As we passed into the full sunshine--and no sunshine is so crisply golden
as the Martian--amongst twined flowers and shrubs and gay, quaint birds
building in the cornices, a sleek youth rose slowly from where he had
spread his cloak as couch upon a step and approaching asked--

"You are the stranger of yesterday?"

"Yes," I answered.