Anothermomentandshehadglidedawayandwaslostintheshadows。
Shewasgone,andIstoodamazedandovercome。Oh！whataloveitwasthatthisalienwomanhadgiventomeandhowcouldIbeworthyofit？
NowIforgotmygriefs;nowInolongermournedbecauseIwasanoutcastwhonevermoremightlookuponthelandwhereIwasborn,norseethefaceofonemyownraceorblood。Allmylosswaspaidbacktomeagainandyetagain,inthecoinofthegloryofthiswomanwhomI
hadwon。Dangersroseaboutus,butIfearedthemnomore,becauseI
knewthatherlove'sconqueringfeetwouldstampthemflatandleadmesafetoajoyfultreasure—houseofsplendourofspiritandofbodywhereweshoulddwellsidebyside,triumphantandunafraid。
WhilstIthoughtthus,lostinarapturesuchasIhadnotfeltsinceBlanchekissedmeatthemouthoftheHastingscaveafterIhadkilledthethreeFrenchmenwithasmanyarrowsfrommyblackbow,Iheardasoundandlookeduptoseeamanstandingbeforeme。
"Whoisit？"Iasked,graspingmysword,forhisfacewashiddenintheshadows。
"I,"answeredavoicewhichIknewtobethatofKari。
"Thenhowdidyoucomehere？Isawnoonepasstheopenground。"
"Master,youarenottheonlyonewholovestowalkingardensinthequietofthenight。Iwasherebeforeyourself,behindyondertree,"
andhepointedtoapalmnotthreepacesdistant。
"Then,Kari,youmusthaveseen————"
"Yes,Master,Isawandheard,noteverything,becausetherecameapointatwhichIshutmyeyesandstoppedmyears,butstillmuch。"
"Iammindedtokillyou,Kari,"Isaidbetweenmyteeth,"whoplaythespyuponme。"
"Iguesseditwouldbeso,Master,"herepliedinhisgentlestvoice,"andforthatreason,asyouwillnotice,Iamstandingoutofreachofyoursword。YouwonderwhyIamhere。Iwilltellyou。Itisnotfromanydesiretowatchyourlove—makingswhichwearyme,whohaveseensuchbefore,butratherthatImightfindsecrets,ofwhichloveisalwaystheloser,andthosesecretsIhavelearned。HowcouldI
havecomebythemotherwise,Master？"
"Surelyyoudeservetodie,"Iexclaimedfuriously。
"Ithinknot,Master。Butlistenandjudgeforyourself。Ihavetoldyousomethingofmystory,nowyoushallhearmore,afterwhichwewilltalkofwhatIdoordonotdeserve。IamtheeldestsonoftheIncaUpanqui,andUrco,ofwhomyouhavebeentalkingismyyoungerbrother。ButUpanqui,ourfather,lovedUrco'smotherwhileminehedidnotlove,andsworetoherbeforeshediedthatagainstrightandlaw,Urco,herson,shouldbeIncaafterhim。ThereforehehatedmebecauseIstoodinUrco'spath;thereforetoomanytroublesbefellme,andIwasgivenoverintoUrco'shand,sothathetookmywifeandtriedtopoisonme,andtherestyouknow。Nowitwasneedfultometolearnhowthingswent,andforthisreasonIlistenedtothetalkbetweenyouandacertainlady。IttoldmethatUpanqui,myfather,comeshereto—morrow,whichindeedIknewalready,andmuchelsethatIhadnotheard。ThisbeingsoImustvanishaway,sincedoubtlessUpanquiorhiscouncillorswouldknowmeagain,andastheyareallofthemfriendsofUrco,perhapsIshouldtastemorepoisonandofastrongersort。"
"Whitherwillyouvanish,Kari？"
"Iknownot,Master,orifIknow,Iwillnotsay,whohavebutjustbeentaughtafreshhowsecretscanpassfromeartoear。Imustliehid,thatisenough。YetdonotthinkthatthereforeIshalldesertyou——I,whileIlive,willwatchoveryou,astrangerinmycountry,asyouwatchedovermewhenIwasastrangerinyourEngland。"
"Ithankyou,"Ianswered,"andcertainlyyouwatchwell——toowell,sometimes,asIhavefoundto—night。"
"Youthinkitpleasesmetospyuponyouandacertainlady,"wentonKariwithanunruffledvoice,"butitisnotso。WhatIdoisforgoodreasons,amongstothersthatImayprotectyouboth,andifIcan,bringaboutwhatyoudesire。Thatladyhasagreatheart,asIlearnedbutnow,andafterallyoudidwelltoloveher,asshedoeswelltoloveyou。Therefore,althoughthedangersaresomany,ifIamable,I
willhelpyouinyourloveandbringyoutogether,yes,andsaveherfromthearmsofUrco。Nay,askmenothow,forIdonotknow,andthecaseseemsdesperate。"
"Butifyougo,whatshallIdoalone？"Iasked,alarmed。
"Bidehere,Ithink,Lord,givingitoutthatyourservantZapanahasdesertedyou。Indeeditseemsthatthisyoumustdo,sincethekingofthiscountrywillscarcelysufferyoutobethecompanionofhisdaughteruponhermarriagejourneytoCuzco,evenifUpanquisodesires。Norwoulditbewise,forifhedid,misfortunemightbefallyouontheroad。Therearesomewomen,Lord,whocannotkeeptheirloveoutoftheireyes,andhenceforwardtherewillbeplentytowatchtheeyesandhearkentothemostsecretsighingsofoneofthegreatestofthem。NowfarewelluntilIcometoyouagainorsendothersonmybehalf。Trustme,Iprayyou,sincetowhomeverelseI
mayseemfalse,toyouIamtrue;yes,toyouandtoanotherbecauseshehasbecomeapartofyou。"
ThenbeforeIcouldanswer,Karitookmyhandandtoucheditwithhislips。AnothermomentandIhadlostsightofhimintheshadows。
CHAPTERVI
THECHOICE
ThatnightIsleptbutillwhowasoverwhelmedwithallthathadbefallenmeofgoodandevil。Ihadgainedawondrouslove,butshewhogaveitwas,itseemed,abouttobelosttome,aye,andtobethrowntoanotherwhomshehated,toforwardthedarkpoliciesofagreatandwarlikepeople。Ihadspokentoherwithhighwordsofhope,butofitinmyhearttherewaslittle。Shewouldfollowwhatsheheldtobeherdutytotheend,andthatend,ifshekeptherpromiseanddidnotdieasshedesiredtodo——was——thearmsofUrco。FromtheseI
couldseenoescapeforher,andthethoughtmaddenedme。Moreover,Kariwasgoneleavingmeutterlyaloneamongthesestrangers,andwhetherhewouldreturnagainIdidnotknow。Oh！almostIwishedthatIweredead。
ThemorningbrokeatlastandIaroseandcalledforZapana。Thencameotherswhosaidthatmyservant,Zapana,couldnotbefound,whereatI
affectedsurpriseandanger。Stilltheseotherswaitedonmewellenough,andIroseandateinpompandluxury。ScarcelyhadIfinishedmymealthanthereappearedheraldswhosummonedmetothepresenceofthekingHuaracha。
Iwent,borneinalitter,althoughanarrowfrommyblackbowwouldhaveflownfromdoortodoor。Attheportalofthepalace,whichwaslikeothersIhadseen,onlyfiner,Iwasmetbysoldiersandgailydressedservantsandledacrossacourtyardwithin,whichIcouldseewaspreparedforsomeceremony,toasmallchamberonthefurtherside。Here,whenmyeyesgrewaccustomedtothehalf—darkness,I
perceivedamanofsomesixtyyearsofage,andbehindhimtwosoldiers。AtonceInotedthateverythingaboutthismanwasplainandsimple;thechamber,whichwaslittlemorethanfourwhitewashedwallswithafloorofstone,thestoolhesaton,evenhisapparel。Herewerenogoldorsilverorbroideredcloths,orgems,orotherrichandcostlythingssuchasthesepeoplelove,butratherthosethataresuitedtoasoldier。Asoldierhelookedindeed,beingburlyandbroadandscarreduponhishomelyface,inwhichgleamedeyesthatweresteadyandpiercing。
AsIentered,thekingHuaracha,foritwashe,rosefromhisstoolandbowedtome,andIbowedbacktohim。Thenhemotionedtooneofthesoldierstogivemeanotherstool,uponwhichIsatmyself,andspeakinginastrong,lowvoice,usingthattonguewhichKarihadtaughtme,said:
"Greeting,White—God—from—the—Sea,orgolden—beardedmannamedthelordHurachi,Iknownotwhich,ofwhomIhaveheardsomuchandwhomIamgladtobeholdinmypoorcity。Say,canyouunderstandmytalk？"
Thushespoke,searchingmewithhiseyes,thoughallthewhileI
perceivedthattheyrestedratheronmyarmourandthegreatsword,Wave—Flame,thanonmyface。
IgavehimbackhisgreetingandansweredthatIunderstoodthetongueheusedthoughnotsoverywell,whereonhebegantospeakaboutthearmourandthesword,whichpuzzledhimwhohadneverseensteel。
"Makemesomelikethem,"hesaid,"andIwillgiveyoutentimestheirweightingold,which,afterall,isofnousesincewithitonecannotkillenemies。"
"Inmycountrywithitonecancorruptthem,"Ianswered,"orbuythemtobefriends。"
"Soyouhaveacountry,"heinterruptedshrewdly。"Ithoughtthatthegodshadnone。"
"Eventhegodslivesomewhere,"Ireplied。
Helaughed,andturningtothetwosoldiers,whoalsowerestaringatmymailandsword,badethemgo。Whentheheavydoorhadshutbehindthemandwewerequitealone,hesaid:
"MylordHurachi,Ihaveheardfrommydaughterhowshefoundyouinthesea,astoryindeed。Ihavealsoheard,orguessed,itmattersnotwhich,thatherhearthasturnedtowardsyou,asisnotstrange,seeingthemannerofmanyouare,ifindeedyoubenotmorethanman,andthatwomenareeverpronetolovethosewhomtheythinktheyhavesaved。Isthistrue,mylordHurachi？"
"AskoftheLadyQuilla,OKing。"
"MayhapIhaveaskedandatlastitseemsthatyoumakenodenial。Nowhearken,mylordHurachi。Youaremyhonouredguestandsaveonething,allIhaveisyours,butyoumusttalknomorealonewiththeladyQuillaingardensatnight。"
Now,makingnoattempttodenyorexplainwhichIsawwouldbeuseless,sinceheknewitall,Iaskedboldly:
"Whynot？"
"Ithoughtthatperchancemydaughterhadtoldyou,LordHurachi,butifyoudesiretohearitfrommyownlipsalso,forthisreason。TheladyQuillaispromisedinmarriageandifshelivesthatpromisemustbefulfilled,sinceonithangsthefateofnations。Therefore,itis,althoughtogrievetopartsuchapair,thatyouandshemustmeetnomoreingardensorelsewhere。Knowthatifyoudo,youwillbringaboutherdeathandyourown,ifgodscandie。"
NowIthoughtawhileandanswered:
"Theseareheavywords,KingHuaracha,seeingthatIwillnothidefromyouthatIloveyourdaughterwellandthatshe,whoisgreat—
hearted,lovesmewellanddesiresmeforherhusband。"
"IknowitandIgrieveforbothofyou,"hesaidcourteously。
"KingHuaracha,"Iwenton,"Iseethatyouareasoldierandthelordofarmies,andithascomeintomymindthatperchanceyoudreamofwar。"
"Thegodsseefar,WhiteLord。"
"Nowgodorman,Ialsoamasoldier,King,andIknowartsofbattlewhichperhapsarehiddenfromyouandyourpeople;alsoIcannotbeharmedbyweaponsbecauseofmagicarmourthatIwear,andnonecanstandbeforemeinfightbecauseofthismagicswordIcarry,andI
candirectbattleswithageneral'smind。Inagreatwar,King,I
mightbeusefultoyouwereIthehusbandofyourdaughterandthereforeyoursonandfriend,andperchancebymyskillmakethedifferencetoyouandyournationbetweenvictoryanddefeat。"
"Doubtlessthisisso,OSon—of—the—Sea。"
"Inthesamefashion,King,wereIuponthesideofyourenemies,tothemImightbringvictoryandtoyoudefeat。WhomdoyoudesirethatIshouldserve,youorthem？"
"Idesirethatyoushouldserveme,"herepliedwitheagerness。"Dosoandallthewealthofthislandshallbeyours,withtheruleofmyarmiesunderme。Youshallhavepalacesandfieldsandgoldandsilver,andthefairestofitsdaughtersforwives,andbeworshippedasagod,andforaughtIknow,bekingafterme,notonlyofmycountrybutmayhapofanotherthatisevengreater。"
"Itisagoodoffer,King,butnotenough。Givemeyourdaughter,Quilla,andyoumaykeepalltherest。"
"WhiteLord,Icannot,sincetodosoImustbreakmyword。"
"Then,King,Icannotserveyou,andunlessyoukillmefirst——ifyouareable——Iwillbe,notyourfriend,butyourenemy。"
"Canagodbekilled,andifsocanaguestbekilled？Lord,youknowthathecannot。Yethecanremainaguest。Tomycountryyouhavecome,Lord,andinmycountryyoushallstay,unlessyouhavewingsbeneaththatsilvercoat。Quillagoeshencebuthereyoubide,mylordHurachi。"
"PerchanceIshallfindthewings,"Ianswered。
"Aye,Lord,foritissaidthatthedeadfly,andifImaynotkillyou,othersmay。Thereforemycounseltoyouistostayhere,takingsuchthingsasmypoorcountrycangiveyou,andnottotrytofollowthemoon（bythishemeantQuilla）tothegoldencityofCuzco,whichhenceforthmustbeherhome。"
Nowhavingnomoretosay,sincewarhadbeendeclaredbetweenus,asitwere,Irosetobidthiskingfarewell。Healsorose,then,asthoughstruckbyasuddenthought,saidthathedesiredtospeakwithmyservant,Zapana,hewhomtheladyQuillahadfoundwithmeintheislandofthesea。IrepliedthathecouldnotsinceZapanahadvanished,Iknewnotwhere。
AtthisintelligenceheappearedtobedisturbedandwasbeginningtoquestionmesomewhatsternlyastowhoZapanamightbeandhowIhadfirstcomeintohiscompany,whenthedooroftheroomopenedandthroughitQuillaenteredevenmoregorgeouslyrobedandlookinglovelierthaneverIhadseenher。Shebowed,firsttotheKingandthentome,saying:
"LordandFather,IcometotellyouthattheIncaUpanquidrawsnearwithhisprincesandcaptains。"
"Isitso,Daughter？"heanswered。"ThenmakeyourfarewellhereandnowtothisWhite—Son—of—the—Sea,sinceitismywillthatyoudepartwithUpanquiwhocomestoescortyoutoCuzco,theCityoftheSun,theretobegivenaswifetotheprinceUrco,sonoftheSun,whowillsitontheInca'sthrone。"
"ImakemyfarewelltothelordHurachiasyoucommand,"sheanswered,curtseying,andinaveryquietvoice,"butknow,myfather,thatI
lovethisWhiteLordashelovesme,andthattherefore,althoughI
maybegiventothePrinceUrco,asagoldcupisgiven,nevershallhedrinkfromthecupandneverwillIbehiswife。"
"Youhavecourage,Daughter,andIlikecourage,"saidHuaracha。"Fortherest,settlethematterasyouwillandifyoucanslipfromthecoilsofthissnakeofanUrcounpoisoned,doso,sincemybargainisfulfilledandmyhonoursatisfied。OnlyhitheryoushallnotreturntothelordHurachi,norshallthelordHurachigotoyouatCuzco。"
"Thatshallbeasthegodsdecree,myfather,andmeanwhileIplaymypartas/you/decree。LordHurachi,fareyouwelltillinlifeordeathwemeetagain。"
Thenshebowedtome,andwent,andpresentlywithoutmorewordswefollowedafterher。
Infrontofthepalacetherewasagreatsquareofopengroundsurroundedbyhouses,excepttowardstheeast,andonthissquarewasmarshalledanarmyofmenallsplendidlyarrayedandcarryingcopper—
headedspears。Infrontofthesewaspitchedagreatpavilionmadeofclothsofvariouscolours。HereKingHuaracha,simplydressedinarobeofwhitecottonbutwearingalittlecrownofgoldandcarryingalargespear,tookhisseatuponathrone,whiletohisright,onasmallerthrone,satQuilla,andonhisleftstoodyetanotherthroneornamentedwithgold,thatwasempty。BetweenthethroneofHuarachaandthatwhichwasemptystoodachaircoveredwithsilveronwhichI
wasbiddentotakemyseat,soplacedthatallcouldseeme,whilebehindandaroundwerelordsandgenerals。
Scarcelywerewearrangedwhenfromthedipbeyondtheopenspaceappearedheraldswhocarriedspearsandwerefantasticallydressed。
TheseshoutedthattheIncaUpanqui,theChildoftheSun,thegodwhoruledtheearth,drewnear。
"Lethimapproach！"saidHuarachabriefly,andtheydeparted。
Awhilelatertherearoseasoundofbarbarousmusicandofchantingandfromthedipbelowemergedaglitteringlitterborneupontheshouldersofrichlyclothedmenallofwhom,Iwastoldafterwards,wereprincesbyblood,andsurroundedbybeautifulwomenwhocarriedjewelledfans,andbycouncillors。ItwasthelitteroftheIncaUpanqui,andafteritmarchedaguardofpickedwarriors,perhapstherewereahundredofthem,notmore。
Thelitterwassetdowninfrontofthethrone;gildedcurtainsweredrawnandoutofitcameamanwhoseattiredazzledtheeyes。Itseemedtoconsistofgoldandpreciousstonessewnontoamantleofcrimsonwool。Heworeahead—dressalsoofasmanycoloursasJoseph'scoat,surmountedbytwofeathers,whichhealonemightbear,fromwhichhead—dressascarletfringethatwasmadeoftasselledwoolhungdownuponhisforehead。ThiswastheInca'scrown,eventotouchwhichwasdeath,anditsnamewas/Lautu/。Hewasaveryoldmanforhiswhitelocksandbeardhungdownuponhissplendidgarmentsandhesupportedhimselfuponhisroyalstaffthatwasheadedbyagreatemerald。Hisfine—cutfacealso,thoughstillkingly,wasweakwithageandhiseyeswereblear。AtthesightofhimallroseandHuarachadescendedfromhisthrone,sayinginaloudvoice:
"WelcometothelandoftheChancas,OUpanqui,IncaoftheQuichuas。"
Theoldmonarcheyedhimforamoment,thenansweredinathinvoice:
"GreetingtoHuaracha,/Curaca/oftheChancas。"
Huarachabowedandsaid:
"Ithankyou,buthereamongmyownpeoplemytitleisnot/Curaca/,butKing,OInca。"
Upanquidrewhimselfuptohisfullheightandreplied:
"TheIncasknownokingsthroughoutthelandofTavantinsuyusavethemselves,OHuaracha。"
"Beitso,OInca;yettheChancas,whoareunconquered,knowaking,andIamhe。Iprayyoubeseated,OInca。"
Upanquistoodstillforamomentfrowning,and,asIthought,wasabouttomakesomeshortanswer,whensuddenlyhisglancefelluponmeandchangedthecurrentofhismind。
"IsthattheWhite—god—from—the—Sea？"heasked,withanalmostchildishcuriosity。"Iheardthathewashere,andtotellthetruththatiswhyIcame,justtolookathim,nottobandywordswithyou,OHuaracha,whotheysaycanonlybetalkedtowithaspearpoint。
Whataredbeardhehasandhowhiscoatshines。Lethimcomeandworshipme。"
"Hewillcome,butIdonotthinkthathewillworship。Theysayheisagodhimself,OInca。"
"Dothey？Well,nowIremembertherearestrangepropheciesaboutawhitegodwhoshouldriseoutofthesea,asdidtheforefatheroftheIncas。Theysay,too,thatthisgodshalldomuchmischieftothelandwhenhecomes。Soperhapshehadbetternotdrawtooneartome,forI
likenotthelookofthatgreatbigswordofhis。BytheSun,myfather,heistallandbigandstrong"（Ihadrisenfrommychair）
"andhisbeardislikeafire;itwillsettheheartsofallthewomenburning,thoughperhapsifheisagodhedoesnotcareforwomen。I
mustconsultmymagiciansaboutit,andtheheadpriestoftheTempleoftheSun。TelltheWhiteGodtomakereadytoreturnwithmetoCuzco。"
"ThelordHurachiismyguest,OInca,andherehebideswithme,"
saidHuaracha。
"Nonsense,nonsense！WhentheIncainvitesanyonetohiscourt,hemustcome。Butenoughofhimforthepresent。Icameheretotalkofothermatters。Whatwerethey？Letmesitdownandthink。"
Sohewasconductedtohisthroneuponwhichhesattryingtocollecthismind,whichIsawwasweakwithage。Theendofitwasthathecalledtohisaidastern—faced,shifty—eyed,middle—agedminister,whomafterIcametoknowastheHigh—priestLarico,theprivateCouncillorofhimselfandofhisson,Urco,andoneofthemostpowerfulmeninthekingdom。Thisnoble,Inoted,wasonewhohadtherankofanEarman,thatis,heworeinhisear,whichlikethatofKariwasstretchedouttoreceiveit,agoldendiscofthesizeofanapple,whereonwasembossedtheimageofthesun。
AtasignandawordfromhisdotardmasterthisLaricobegantospeakforhimasthoughheweretheIncahimself,saying:
"Hearken,OHuaracha。Ihaveundertakenthistoilsomejourney,thelastIshallmakeasInca,forbeitknowntoyouthatIpurposetodivestmyselfoftheroyalFringeinfavouroftheprince,Urco,begottentomeinthebodyandoftheSuninspirit,andtoretiretoendmydaysinpeaceatmypalaceofYucay,waitingtherepatientlyuntilitpleasesmyfather,theSun,totakemetohisbosom。"
HereLaricopausedtoallowthisgreatnewstosinkintothemindsofhishearers,andIthoughttomyselfthatwhenIdiedIwouldchoosetobegatheredtoanybosomratherthantothatoftheSun,whichputmeinmindofhell。Thenhewenton:
"Rumourshavereachedme,theInca,thatyou,Huaracha,ChiefoftheChancas,aremakingreadytowagewaruponmyempire。Itwastotesttheserumours,althoughIdidnotbelievethem,thatawhileagoIsentanembassytoaskyouronlychild,theladyQuilla,inmarriagetotheprinceUrco,promising,sincehehasnosisterwhomhemaywedandsinceonthemother'ssideshe,yourdaughter,hastheholyIncabloodinherveins,thatsheshouldbecomehis/Coya/,orQueen,andthemotherofhimwhoshallsucceedtothethrone。"
"Theembassycame,andreceivedmyanswer,OInca,"saidHuaracha。
"Yes,andtheanswerwasthattheladyQuillashouldbegiveninmarriagetothePrinceUrco,butasshewasabsentonavisit,thiscouldnothappenuntilshereturned。Butsincethen,OHuaracha,morerumourshavereachedmethatyoustillprepareforwarandseektomakealliancesamongmysubjects,temptingthemtorebelagainstme。
ThereforeIamheremyselftoleadawaytheladyQuillaandtodeliverhertothePrinceUrco。"
"WhydidnotthePrinceUrcocomeinperson,OInca？"
"Forthisreason,Huaracha,fromwhomIdesiretohidenothing。IfthePrincehadcome,youmighthavesetatrapforhimandkilledhim,whoisthehopeoftheEmpire。"
"SoImightforyou,hisfather,OInca。"
"Aye,Iknowit,butwhatwouldthatavailyouwhilethePrincesitssafeatCuzcoreadytoassumetheFringe？AlsoIamoldandcarenotwhenorhowIdie,whoseworkisdone。Moreover,fewwoulddesiretoangerthegodsbythemurderofanagedguest,andthereforeIvisityousittinghereinthemidstofyourarmieswithbutahandfuloffollowers,trustingtoyourhonourandtomyfathertheSuntoprotectme。Nowanswerme——willyougivethehandofyourdaughtertomysonandtherebymakealliancewithme,orwillyouwagewaruponmyempireandbedestroyed,youandyourpeopletogether？"
HereUpanqui,whohithertohadbeenlisteninginsilencetothewordsofLarico,spokenonhisbehalf,brokein,saying:
"Yes,yes,thatisright,onlymakehimunderstandthattheIncawillbehisover—lord,sincetheIncacanhavenorivalsinalltheland。"
"Myansweris,"saidHuaracha,"thatIwillgivemydaughterinmarriageasIhavepromised,butthattheChancasareafreepeopleandacceptnoover—lord。"
"Foolishness,foolishness！"saidUpanqui。"Aswellmightthetreesaythatitwouldnotbendbeforethewind。However,youcansettlethatmatterafterwardswithUrco,andindeedwithyourdaughter,whowillbehisqueenandisyourheiress,forIunderstandyouhavenootherlawfulchild。Whytalkofwarandothertroubleswhenthusyourkingdomfallstousbymarriage？NowletmeseethisladyQuillawhoistobecomemydaughter。"
Huaracha,whohadlistenedtoallthisbabblewithasternsetface,turnedtoQuillaandmadeasign。Shedescendedfromherchairandadvancing,stoodbeforetheInca,avisionofsplendourandofbeauty,andbowedtohim。Hestaredatherawhile,asdidallhiscompany,thensaid:
"SoyouaretheladyQuilla。Afairwoman,averyfairwoman,andaproud,onewhooughttobeabletoleadUrcoarightifanyonecan。
Wellnamed,too,afterthemoon,forthemoonlightseemstoshineinyoureyes,LadyQuilla。IndeedandindeedwereIbutascoreofyearsyoungerIshouldtellUrcotoseekanotherqueenandkeepyouformyself。"
ThenQuillaspokeforthefirsttime,saying:
"Beitasyouwill,OInca。IampromisedinmarriagetotheChildoftheSunandwhichchildisnothingtome。"
"Wellsaid,LadyQuilla,andwhyshouldIwonder？ThoughIgrowoldtheytellmethatIamstillhandsome,agreatdealbetterlookingthanUrco,infact,whoisaroughmanandofacoarsertype。YouaskmywiveswhenyoucometoCuzco;oneofthemtoldmetheotherdaythattherewasnoonesohandsomeinthewholecity,andearnedabeautifulpresentforherprettyspeech。Whatisityousay,Larico？