Bartja rejected the idea of an understanding with Nitetis in such short, decided, and convincing words, and confirmed his assertion with such a fearful oath, that Croesus' persuasion of his guilt first wavered, then vanished, and when Bartja had ended, he drew a deep breath, like a man delivered from a heavy burden, and clasped him in his arms.
But with all their efforts they could come to no explanation of what had really happened.

In one thing, however, they were all agreed: that Nitetis loved Bartja and had written the letter with a wrong intention.
"No one who saw her," cried Darius, "when Cambyses announced that Bartja had chosen a wife, could doubt for a moment that she was in love with him.

When she let the goblet fall, I heard Phaedime's father say that the Egyptian women seemed to take a great interest in the affairs of their brothers-in-law." While they were talking, the sun rose and shone pleasantly into the prisoners' room.
Bartja murmured Mithras means to make our parting difficult." "No," answered Croesus, "he only means to light us kindly on our way into eternity.".