The embrace that followed was a trifle too prolonged for Burke's tastes. When it ended, the girl sighed, starry-eyed, and ran long, supple fingers through her companion's short black hair. "How can a warrior such as you, a hero, even look at a serving-wench like me, Master Theseus?" she murmured. The man straightened and swelled out his chest; and now Burke saw that he was not only a good six feet tall and powerfully built, but handsome in a somewhat coarse, heavy-featured way. "I'll deny no wench my favors just because she's of a lower station," he proclaimed pompously. "I've no doubt you'll keep a man as warm as this Princess Ariadne who's your mistress." The girl giggled. "You mustn't say such things, Master Theseus! Ariadne's the loveliest woman in all Knossos." "What--?" Theseus' broad brow furrowed, and he stood with mouth half open, looking more than a little stupid. "Are you trying to confuse me, wench? If this Ariadne's such a beauty, why must she send secretly for prisoners from her father's dungeon in order to find lovers?" An uneasy shadow seemed to fall across the maid's pretty face. She moved restlessly. "It--it's the curse of Pasiphae, Master Theseus." "The curse of Pasiphae--?" Theseus looked blank. "What's that, wench? Tell me of it." "Of the curse?" The girl's smile grew suddenly stiff, and her hands moved in a small, nervous gesture. Then, quickly, she came close to her barrel-chested companion and slipped her arms about him. "No wonder you're the pride of Athens, Master Theseus! Close to you this way, I feel your strength. It brings a woman all sorts of thoughts--" Belligerently, Theseus scowled and pushed her back. "None of that, wench! This curse--tell me about it!" The girl drew a deep, unhappy breath, "If you must, then--" And, after a moment's pause: "You know, of course, that Pasiphae is King Minos' wife; Ariadne's mother?" "Yes." "And also that she lusted after the sacred bull of Zeus--" "--and so gave birth to the monster in the Labyrinth, the Minotaur? Of course. Who hasn't heard it?" The maid looked round almost fearfully. "Do you not see, then, Master Theseus? There's the curse! Ariadne's daughter of a woman who's defied all the laws of gods and men. Who knows what evil may befall the child? So, no youth dares even look at Ariadne, no matter how great her beauty." Theseus' jaw sagged for a moment. Then he bristled. "It's not because of my fame, then, my prowess as a lover, that she sent you to bring me here in secret?" The maid bowed her head. But from his vantage-point, Burke could see her hidden smile--quick, minx-like. "She seeks only to escape her destiny, Master Theseus. In you, hero that you are, she sees one who might slay the Minotaur and take her away from Crete and the scorn and loneliness that so long have been her lot here." "So!" grunted Theseus. "She'd use me, would she! Me, hero of Athens!" * * * * *