just submit. But one man is not good for all tasks. To ride, or guide a
train of merchandise, to keep the cameldrivers in order, to pitch a camp-
--all that I can do; but to parley with grand folks, to go straight up to
such a man as the great chief Amru with prayers and supplications--all
that, you see, sweetheart--even if it were to save my own father, that
would be...."

"But who asks you to do all that?" said the child. "You may stand as
mute as a fish: it will be your companion's business to do the talking."

"There is to be another one then? But, great Masdak! I hope that will
be enough at any rate!"

"Why will you constantly interrupt me?" the little girl put in. "Listen
first and raise objections after wards. The second messenger--now open
your ears wide--it is I, I myself;--but if you stand still again, you
will really betray me. The long and short of it is, that as surely as I
mean to save Paula, I mean to go forth to meet Amru, and if you refuse to
go with me I will set out alone and try whether Gibbus the hunchback...."

Rustem had needed some time to collect his senses after this stupendous
surprise, but now he exclaimed: "You--you--to Berenice, and over the
mountains. . . ."

"Yes, over the mountains," she repeated, "and if need be, through the
clouds."

"But such a thing was never heard of, never heard of on this earth!" the
Persian remonstrated. "A girl, a little lady like you--a messenger, and
all alone with a clumsy fellow like me. No, no, no!"