Aquila watched her resentfully, waiting with an immense reserve of caustic words for her refusal to accept the charge.
"So, my Mars of the gray temples, thou meanest in all faith to deliver up this lady and her treasure to Julian ?" "By those same gray temples, I do! And hold thy peace about my white hairs.

Nothing made them so but thyself--and this evil plot in which I am tangled.

What does Julian mean to do with this poor creature ?" "He has not got her yet and by the complication thou seest now, wearing its turban over one ear in yonder howdah, it may come to pass that he will never have her--and her dowry." "Pfui! How little you know this Julian! Besides, I am pledged to deliver him--at least the treasure." "And thou meanest to line his purse with this great treasure because he paid thee to do it ?" "I shall; and be rid of it!" The woman smiled sarcastically.
"And scorn it for thyself ?" Aquila made no answer, but rode on in sulky silence.
"Perpol, it must be pleasant to be a queen," the woman observed with an assumption of childishness in her voice.
"Peril's own habit!" Aquila declared.
"Peril! Fie! That is half the pleasure of this game of life.

It is tiresome to live any other way than hazardously." "Thou shalt have pleasure enough in this journey thou art to take," Aquila declared a little threateningly.
The woman laughed.

When Aquila spoke again, his voice was full of concern.
"I was a fool for not forcing you to stay in Ascalon.