Tome，DejahThoriswasallthatwasperfect；allthatwasvirtuousandbeautifulandnobleandgood。Ibelievedthatfromthebottomofmyheart，fromthedepthofmysoulonthatnightinKoradasIsatcross-leggeduponmysilkswhilethenearermoonofBarsoomracedthroughthewesternskytowardthehorizon，andlightedupthegoldandmarble，andjeweledmosaicsofmyworld-oldchamber，andIbelieveittodayasIsitatmydeskinthelittlestudyoverlookingtheHudson。Twentyyearshaveintervened；fortenofthemI
livedandfoughtforDejahThorisandherpeople，andfortenIhaveliveduponhermemory。
ThemorningofourdepartureforTharkdawnedclearandhot，asdoallMartianmorningsexceptforthesixweekswhenthesnowmeltsatthepoles。
IsoughtoutDejahThorisinthethrongofdepartingchariots，butsheturnedhershouldertome，andIcouldseetheredbloodmounttohercheek。WiththefoolishinconsistencyofloveIheldmypeacewhenImighthavepleadignoranceofthenatureofmyoffense，oratleastthegravityofit，andsohaveeffected，atworst，ahalfconciliation。
MydutydictatedthatImustseethatshewascomfortable，andsoIglancedintoherchariotandrearrangedhersilksandfurs。IndoingsoInotedwithhorrorthatshewasheavilychainedbyoneankletothesideofthevehicle。