第13章

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？