solitary and to have time to think。 Amongst other things I wondered
where Quilla might be； for of her I had seen nothing from the time
that we entered the town。 I hated to be parted from her； because in
this vast strange land into which I had wandered she was the only one
for whom I had come to care and without whom I felt I should die of
loneliness。
There was Kari； it is true； who I knew loved me in his fashion； but
between him and me there was a great gulf fixed； not only of race and
faith； but of something now which I did not wholly understand。 In
London he had been my servant and his ends were my ends； on our
wandering he had been my companion in great adventures。 But now I knew
that other interests and desires had taken a hold of him； and that he
trod a road of which I could not see the goal； and no longer thought
much of me save when what I did or desired to do came between him and
that goal。
Therefore Quilla alone was left to me； and Quilla was about to be
taken away。 Oh！ I wearied of this strange land with its snowclad
mountains and rich valleys； its hordes of dark…skinned people with
large eyes； smiling faces； and secret hearts； its great cities；
temples； and palaces filled with useless gold and silver； its
brilliant sunshine and rushing rivers； its gods； kings； and policies。
They were alien to me； every one of them； and if Quilla were taken
away and I were left quite alone； then I thought that it would be well
to die。
Something moved behind a palm trunk of the avenue in which I walked；
and not knowing whether it were beast or man； I laid my hand upon my
sword which I still wore； although I had taken off the armour。 Before
I could draw it my wrist was grasped and a soft voice whispered in my
ear：
〃Fear nothing； it is IQuilla。〃
Quilla it was； wrapped in a long hooded cloak such as the peasant
women wear in the cold country； for she threw back the hood and a beam
of starlight fell upon her face。
〃Hearken！〃 she said。 〃It is dangerous to both of us； but I have come
to bid you farewell。〃
〃Farewell！ I feared it would be thus； but why so soon； Quilla？〃
〃For this reason； Love and Lord。 I have seen my father the King； and
made my report to him of the matter with which I was sent to deal
among the Yuncas。 It pleased him； and since his mood was gracious； I
opened my heart to him and told him that no longer did I wish to be
given in marriage to Urco； who will soon put on the Inca fringe； for；
as you know； it is to him that I am promised！〃
〃What did he answer； Quilla？〃
〃He answered： 'This means； Daughter； that you have met some other man
to whom you do wish to be given in marriage。 I will not ask his name；
since if I knew it it would be my duty to kill him； however high and
noble he might be。'〃
〃Then he guesses； Quilla？〃
〃I think he guesses； I think that already some have whispered in his
ear； but he does not wish to listen who desires to remain deaf and
blind。〃
〃Did he say no more； Quilla？〃
〃He said much more； he said thisnow I tell you secrets； Lord； and
place my honour in your keeping； for having given you all the rest；
why should I not give you that also？ He said： 'Daughter； you who have
been my ambassador； you； my only child； who know all my counsel； know
also that there is about to be the greatest war that the land of
Tavantinsuyu has ever known； war between the two mighty nations of the
Quichuas of Cuzco whereof the old Upanqui is king and god； and the
Chancas whereof I am king and you； if you live； in a day to come will
be the queen。 No longer can these two lions dwell in the same forest；
one of them must devour the other； nor shall I fight alone； since on
our side are all the Yuncas of the coast who； as you report to me； are
ripe for rebellion。 But； as you also report； and as I have learned
from others； they are not yet ready。 Moons must go by before their
armies are joined to mine and I throw off the mask。 Is it not so？'
〃I answered that it was so； and my father went on：
〃'Then during that time； Daughter； a dust must be raised that will
hide the shining of my spears； and； Daughter； you are that dust。
To…morrow the old Inca Upanqui visits me here with a small army。 I
read your thought。 It isWhy do you not kill him and his army？
Daughter； for this reason。 He is very aged and about to lay down his
sceptre； who grows feeble of mind and body。 If I killed him what would
it serve me； seeing that he has left his son； Urco； who will be Inca；
ruling at Cuzco； and that of his soldiers not one in fifty will be
with him here？ Moreover； he is my guest； and the gods frown on those
who slay their guests； nor will men ever trust them more。'
〃Now I answered： 'You spoke of me as a cloud of dust； Father； how；
then； can this poor dust serve your ends and those of the Chanca
people？'
〃'Thus Daughter；' he answered。 'With your own consent you are promised
in marriage to Urco。 Upanqui the Inca has heard rumours that the
Chancas prepare for war。 Therefore； he who travels on his last journey
through certain of his dominions comes to lead you away； to be Urco's
bride； saying to himself； 〃If those rumours are true； King Huaracha
will withhold his only child and heiress； since never will he make war
upon Cuzco if she rules there as its queen。〃 Therefore； if I refuse
you to him； he will withdraw and begin the war； rolling down his
thousands upon us before we are ready； and bringing the Chancas to
destruction and enslavement。 Therefore also not only my fate； but the
fate of all your country lies in your hand。'
〃'Father；' I said； 'tell me； who was ever dear to you that lack sons；
is there no escape？ Must I eat this bitter bread？ Before you answer；
learn that you have guessed aright； and that I who； when I made that
promise； cared for no man； have come to feel the burning of love's
fire！'
〃Now he looked at me awhile； then said： 'Child of the Moon； there is
but one escape； and it must be soughtin the moon。 The dead cannot be
given in marriage。 If your strait is so sore； though it would cut me
to the heart； perchance it is better that you should die and go
whither doubtless he whom you love will soon follow you。 Depart now
and counsel with Heaven in your sleep。 To…morrow； before Upanqui
comes； we will talk again。'
〃So I knelt and kissed the hand of the King； my father； and left him；
wondering at his nobleness who could show such a road to his only
child； though its treading would mean woe to him and mayhap the ruin
of his hopes。 Still that road is an old one among the women of my
people； and why should I not walk it； as thousands have done before
me？〃
〃How came you here？〃 I asked hoarsely。
〃Lord； I guessed that you would be walking in this garden which joins
on to that of the palace； andnone were about； andthe door in the
wall was open。 Indeed； it was almost as though I were left alone and
unwatched of set purpose。 So I came and soughtand found； having a
question to put to you。〃
〃What question； Quilla？〃
〃This： Shall I live or shall I die？ Speak the word and I obey。 Yet ere
you speak； remember that if I live we meet for the last time； since
very soon I go hence to become the wife of Urco and play the part that
is prepared for me？〃
Now when I； Hubert； heard these words； I felt as though my heart would
burst within my breast and knew not what to say。 So to gain time I
asked her：
〃Which do you desireto live or to die？〃
She laughed a little as she answered：
〃That is a strange question； Lord。 Have I not told you that if I live
I must do so befouled as one of Urco's women； whereas； if I die； I die
clean and take my love with me to where Urco cannot come； but where；
mayhap； another may follow at the appointed time。〃
〃Which time would be very soon； I think； Quilla； seeing that he who
had spoiled all this pretty plot would scarcely be left long upon the
earth； even if he wished to stay there。 Yet I say： Do not dielive
on。〃
〃To become Urco's woman！ That is strange counsel from a lover's lips；
Lord； such as would scarcely have been given by any of our nobles。〃
〃Aye； Quilla； and it is given because I am not of your people and do
not think as they think； who reject their customs。 You are not yet
Urco's wife； and may be rid of him by other paths than that of death；
but from the grave there is no escape。〃
〃And in the grave there is no more fear； Lord。 Thither Urco cannot
come； there are neither wars nor plottings； there honour does not
beckon and love hold back。 I say that I will die and make an end； as
for like causes many of my blood have done； though not here and now。
When I am about to be delivered to Urco then I will die； and perchance
not alone。 Perchance he will accompany me；〃 she added slowly。
〃And if this happens； what shall I do？〃
〃Live on； Lord； and find other women to love you； as a god should。
There are many in this land fairer and wiser than I； and； save myself；
you may take whom you will。〃
〃Listen； Quilla。 I have a story to tell you。〃
Then； as briefly as I could； I set out the tale of Blanche and of her
end； while she hung upon my every word。
〃Oh！ I grieve for you；〃 she said； when I had finished。
〃You grieve for me； and yet； what she did for my sake you would do
also； so that； as it were； both my hands must be dyed with blood。 This
first terror I have borne； but if a second falls upon me then I know
that I shall go mad and perish in this way or in that； and you；
Quilla； will be my murderess。〃
〃No； no； not that！〃 she murmured。
〃Then swear to me by your god and by your spirit； that you will do
yourself no harm； whatever chances； and that if die you must； it shall
be with me for company。〃
〃Is your love so great that you would dare this for my sake； Lord？〃
〃I think so； though not till all else had failed。 I think that if you
were taken from me； Quilla； I could not live on here in loneliness and
exilehowever great the sin。 But do you swear？〃
〃Aye； Love and Lord； I swear； for your sake。 Moreover； I add to the
oath。 If perhaps we should escape these perils and come together； I
will be such a wife to you as never man has had。 I will wrap you round
with love and lift you up to be a king； that you may live in glory
forgetting you