"The life of Melicent hangs on my safe return to Nacumera.... Ey, what is that to me!" the proconsul cried aloud. "The thought of Melicent is sweeter than the thought of any god. It is not sweet enough to bribe me into living as this Perion's debtor."
So when the ship touched at the Needle, a half-hour later, that spur of rock was vacant. Demetrios had untethered his horse, had thrown away his sword and other armour, and had torn his garments; afterward he rolled in the first puddle he discovered. Thus he set out afoot, in grimy rags--for no one marks a beggar upon the highway--and thus he came again into the realm of King Theodoret, where certainly nobody looked for Demetrios to come unarmed.
With the advantage of a quiet advent, as was quickly proven, he found no check for a notorious leave-taking.