His scowl grew even blacker. Then, abruptly, it faded. Sweeping the girl up bodily in his arms, he bore her to the nearest couch. "Enough of this empty talk, wench! We've wasted too much time already on your precious mistress!" The couch groaned with their joint weight. Throwing the maid back, tilting her face up, Theseus strove to kiss her. But now the girl drew away, struggling in obvious earnest. "No, Master Theseus, no! We dare not! Ariadne may come at any moment--" "Let her come!" Athenian pinned maid with hands and body. "Let her see for herself who I prefer--" Across the room, a door opened. A slim young girl, proud-faced and beautiful and poised, stood framed within the entry. On the couch, the maid gave a little shriek. "Princess Ariadne!" Frantically, she tried to writhe free of Theseus. He clutched at her as she spun erect. Cloth ripped as her whole skirt tore away, leaving her standing well-nigh naked. The maid's face flamed. Whirling, she darted for the grill-masked doorway where Burke stood hiding. It took him off balance; it was that unexpected. Before he could even get clear, jump back, she dodged behind the grating; crashed into him full-tilt. Burke reeled back against the door-frame. The maid screamed. Like an echo, Theseus tore away the screening grillwork. After that, for Burke, there was no choice. Instinctively, he knew that no matter what the cost, he must gain command of the situation. Snatching the Smith & Wesson from his waistband, he leveled it at Theseus. "Stand back, you!" Apparently the computational translator put words and tone into language the bull-necked Athenian could understand. He stopped short. Catching the maid by the shoulder, Burke shoved her, stumbling, over to join her playmate. Next, Ariadne, still standing frozen beside the far door: "You, princess!" Burke clipped tightly. "Over here, on the double!" The slim girl didn't move a muscle. Burke snapped, "Come here, I said! Now! Do you hear me?" Coldly, the great dark eyes took in Burke and his so-different garments. Then, in a voice edged with scorn, the princess asked, "And who are you, to command the daughter of Minos in her own chambers?" Sweat slicked Burke's palms, his forehead. "That doesn't matter. It's enough that I hold the power of the thunderbolt in my hand here." He gestured with the Smith & Wesson. "Indeed?" Now, coolly, Ariadne strolled in his direction. "Perhaps, then, you're a god; is that it?" Burke groped. "Perhaps." "Or more likely, you're just a thief from some far country." The girl stood very erect before Burke, oval face even lovelier for her anger. "What brought you to my chambers, dog? Or must I have you flayed alive to get an answer?" The trouble with taking command of a situation, Burke decided, was that you had to be willing to go all out. And he wasn't. At least, not with this slim young beauty. Desperately, he tried a final gambit. "You, Theseus! Seize her!"