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？