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 your home across the sea； and all the sorrows that befell
you there。 Children you shall have also of whom you need not be
ashamed； though my dark blood runs in them； and armies at command and
palaces filled with gold； and all royal joys。 And if perchance the
gods declare against us； and we pass from the world together； then I
think； oh！ then I think that I shall give you finer gifts than these；
though what they are I know not yet； since to the power of love there
is no endhere on earth or yonder in the skies。〃
I stared at her face in the starlight； and oh！ it had grown splendid。
No longer was it that of a woman； since through it； like light through
pearl； shone a soul divine。 It might have been a goddess who stood
beside me； for those eyes were holy and her embrace that wrapped me
close was not that of the flesh alone。
〃I must be gone；〃 she whispered； 〃but now I go without fear。 Perchance
we may not speak again for long； but trust me always。 Play your part
and I will play mine。 Follow me wherever I am taken and keep near to
me； if you may； as ever my spirit shall be near to you。 Then what
matters anything； even if we are slain？ Farewell； beloved； kiss me and
farewell。〃
Another moment and she had glided away and was lost in the shadows。
She was gone； and I stood amazed and overcome。 Oh！ what a love it was
that this alien woman had given to me and how could I be worthy of it？
Now I forgot my griefs； now I no longer mourned because I was an
outcast who nevermore might look upon the land where I was born； nor
see the face of one my own race or blood。 All my loss was paid back to
me again and yet again； in the coin of the glory of this woman whom I
had won。 Dangers rose about us； but I feared them no more； because I
knew that her love's conquering feet would stamp them flat and lead me
safe to a joyful treasure…house of splendour of spirit and of body
where we should dwell side by side； triumphant and unafraid。
Whilst I thought thus； lost in a rapture such as I had not felt since
Blanche kissed me at the mouth of the Hastings cave after I had killed
the three Frenchmen with as many arrows from my black bow； I heard a
sound and looked up to see a man standing before me。
〃Who is it？〃 I asked； grasping my sword； for his face was hidden in
the shadows。
〃I；〃 answered a voice which I knew to be that of Kari。
〃Then how did you come here？ I saw no one pass the open ground。〃
〃Master； you are not the only one who loves to walk in gardens in the
quiet of the night。 I was here before yourself； behind yonder tree；〃
and he pointed to a palm not three paces distant。
〃Then； Kari； you must have seen〃
〃Yes； Master； I saw and heard； not everything； because there came a
point at which I shut my eyes and stopped my ears； but still much。〃
〃I am minded to kill you； Kari；〃 I said between my teeth； 〃who play
the spy upon me。〃
〃I guessed it would be so； Master；〃 he replied in his gentlest voice；
〃and for that reason； as you will notice； I am standing out of reach
of your sword。 You wonder why I am here。 I will tell you。 It is not
from any desire to watch your love…makings which weary me； who have
seen such before； but rather that I might find secrets； of which love
is always the loser； and those secrets I have learned。 How could I
have come by them otherwise； Master？〃
〃Surely you deserve to die；〃 I exclaimed furiously。
〃I think not； Master。 But listen and judge for yourself。 I have told
you something of my story； now you shall hear more； after which we
will talk of what I do or do not deserve。 I am the eldest son of the
Inca Upanqui； and Urco； of whom you have been talking is my younger
brother。 But Upanqui； our father； loved Urco's mother while mine he
did not love； and swore to her before she died that against right and
law； Urco； her son； should be Inca after him。 Therefore he hated me
because I stood in Urco's path； therefore too many troubles befell me；
and I was given over into Urco's hand； so that he took my wife and
tried to poison me； and the rest you know。 Now it was needful to me to
learn how things went； and for this reason I listened to the talk
between you and a certain lady。 It told me that Upanqui； my father；
comes here to…morrow； which indeed I knew already； and much else that
I had not heard。 This being so I must vanish away； since doubtless
Upanqui or his councillors would know me again； and as they are all of
them friends of Urco； perhaps I should taste more poison and of a
stronger sort。〃
〃Whither will you vanish； Kari？〃
〃I know not； Master； or if I know； I will not say； who have but just
been taught afresh how secrets can pass from ear to ear。 I must lie
hid； that is enough。 Yet do not think that therefore I shall desert
youI； while I live； will watch over you； a stranger in my country；
as you watched over me when I was a stranger in your England。〃
〃I thank you；〃 I answered； 〃and certainly you watch welltoo well；
sometimes； as I have found to…night。〃
〃You think it pleases me to spy upon you and a certain lady；〃 went on
Kari with an unruffled voice； 〃but