But what of the prayer?
Is there some man whom you desire ?" "None," she answered angrily.
"Then why does your heart need so much help that you ask it of the air?
Is there perchance someone whom you do _not_ desire ?" She hung her head and made no answer.
"Come, Brother," said the Prince, "this lady is weary of us, and I think that if she were a true woman she would answer our questions more readily.

Let us go and leave her.

As she cannot walk we can take her later if we wish." "Sirs," she said, "I am glad that you are going, since the hyenas will be safer company than two men who can threaten to sell a helpless woman into slavery.

Yet as we part to meet no more I will answer your question.

In the prayer to which you were not ashamed to listen I did not pray for any lover, I prayed to be rid of one." "Now, Ana," said the Prince bursting into laughter and throwing back his dark cloak, "do you discover the name of that unhappy man of whom the lady Merapi wishes to be rid, for I dare not." She gazed into his face and uttered a little cry.
"Ah!" she said, "I thought I knew the voice again when once you forget your part.