Darius walked to the balustrade and stood in the full glare of the sun for a moment, looking out.

Then he came back again.
"The town seems to be quiet this morning," he said.

"How long did the queen tarry here talking with thee, Zoroaster ?" "The queen talked with her servant for the space of half an hour," answered Zoroaster, without hesitation, though he was astonished at the suddenness and directness of the question.
"She is gone to see thy princess," continued the king.
"The queen told her servant it was yet too early to see Nehushta," remarked the warrior.
"She is gone to see her, nevertheless," asserted Darius, in a tone of conviction.

"Now, it stands in reason that when the most beautiful woman in the world has been told that another woman is come who is more beautiful than she, she will not lose a moment in seeing her." He eyed Zoroaster curiously for a moment, and his thick black beard did not altogether hide the smile on his face.

"Come," he added, "we shall find the two together." The king led the way and Zoroaster gravely followed.