"Yes,mybrother,"heanswered,"becauseyoubelievemyreligiontobeidolatry,anddonotunderstandthattheSuntomeisthesymbolandgarmentofGod,andthatwhenweoftheIncablood,orthoseofuswhohavetheinnerknowledge,talkofhimasourFather,wemeanthatwearethechildrenofGod,thoughthecommonpeoplearetaughtotherwise。Fortherest,thisladytookhervowsofherownfreewillandofhersecretreasonsIknownothing,anymorethanIknowwhysheofferedherselfinmarriagetoUrcobeforeshefoundyouupontheisland。ForyouIgrieve,andforheralso;yetIwouldhaveyourememberthat,asyourownprieststeach,ineverylifethatisnotbrutaltheremustbeloss,sorrow,andsacrifice,sincebythesestepsonlymancanclimbtowardsthethingsofthespirit。PluckthensuchflowersasyouwillfromthegardenthatFategivesyou,butleavethisonewhitebloomalone。"
　　Insuchwordsasthesehepreachedatme,tillatlengthIcouldbearnomore,andsaidroughly:
　　"Tomeitisaveryevilthing,OInca,toseparatethosewholoveeachother,andonethatcannotbepleasingtoHeaven。Therefore,greatasyouare,andfriendofmineasyouare,ItellyoutoyourfacethatifIcantaketheladyQuillaoutofthatgoldengraveofhersIshalldoso。"
　　"Iknowit,mybrother,"heanswered,"andtherefore,wereIassomeIncashavebeen,IshouldcausethisholySpousetotravelmorequicklytotheskiesthanNaturewilltakeher。ButthisIwillnotdobecauseIknowalsothatDestinyisaboveallthingsandthatwhichDestinydecreeswillhappenunhelpedbyman。StillItellyouthatI
　　willthwartyouifIcanandthatshouldyousucceedinyourends,I
　　willkillyouifIcanandtheladyalso,becauseyouhavecommittedsacrilege。Yes,althoughIloveyoubetterthananyotherman,Iwillkillyou。AndifKingHuarachashouldbeabletosnatchherawaybyforceIwillmakewaronhimuntileitherIandmypeopleorheandhispeoplearedestroyed。Andnowletustalknomoreofthismatter,butratherofourplansagainstUrco,sinceintheseatleast,wherenowomanisconcerned,IknowthatyouwillbefaithfultomeandI
　　sorelyneedyourhelp。"
　　SowithaheavyheartIwentbacktothecampofHuarachaandtoldhimKari'swords。Hewasverywrothwhenheheardthem,sincehisgodsweredifferenttothoseoftheIncasandhethoughtnothingoftheholinessoftheVirginsoftheSun,andonceagaintalkedofrenewingthewar。Stillitcametonothingforsundryreasonsofwhichthegreatestwasthathissicknessincreasedonhimasthedayswentby。
　　AlsoItoldhimthatmuchasIdesiredQuilla,IcouldnotfightuponhissidesinceIwassworntoaidKariagainstUrcoandmywordmightnotbebroken。Moreover,theYuncaswhohadbeenourallies,wearyingoftheirlongabsencefromhomeandsatisfiedwiththegentleforgivenessandtheredressoftheirgrievanceswhichthenewIncahadpromisedthem,weregone,havingdepartedontheirlongmarchtothecoast,whilemanyoftheChancasthemselveswereslippingbacktotheirowncountry。ThereforeHuaracha'shourhadpassedby。
　　SoatlengthweagreedthatitwouldbefoolishtoattackCuzcoinordertotrytorescueQuilla,sinceevenifHuarachawoninfaceofadesperatedefence,probablyitwouldbeonlytofindthathisdaughterwasdeadorhadvanishedawaytosomeunknownanddistantconvent。Allthatwecoulddowastotrusttofortunetodeliverherintoourhands。Weagreedfurtherthat,havingobtainedanhonourablepeaceandallelsethathedesired,itwouldbewellforHuarachatoreturntohisownland,leavingmeabodyoffivethousandpickedmenwhowerewillingtoserveunderme,toassistinthewaragainstUrco,tobemyguardandthatofQuilla,ifperchanceIcoulddeliverherfromtheHouseoftheSun。
　　WhenthiswasknownfivethousandofthebestandbravestoftheChancas,youngsoldierswhosoughtadventureandbattleandwhomIhadtrained,steppedforwardatonceandsworethemselvestomyservice。
　　BiddingfarewelltoHuaracha,withthesetroopsIreturnedtoCuzco,sendingmessengersaheadtoexplainthereasonoftheircomingtoKari,whowelcomedthemwellandgavethemquartersroundthepalacewhichwasallottedtome。
　　AfewdayslaterweadvancedonthetownHuarina,agreathostofus,andoutsideofitmettheyetgreaterhostofUrcoinamightybattlethatenduredforadayandanight,andyet,likethatoftheFieldofBlood,remainedneitherlostnorwon。WhenthethousandsofthedeadhadbeenburiedandthewoundedsentbacktoCuzco,weattackedthecityofHuarina,IleadingthevanwithmyChancas,andstormedtheplace,drivingUrcoandhisforcesoutonthefartherside。
　　Theyretreatedtothemountainsandtherefollowedalongandtediouswarwithoutgreatbattles。Atlength,althoughtheInca'sarmieshadsufferedsorely,weforcedthoseofUrcototheshoresoftheLakeTiticaca,wheremostofthemmeltedawayintotheswampsandcertaintree—clad,low—lyingvalleys。Urcohimself,however,withanumberoffollowers,escapedinboatstotheholyislandinthelake。
　　Webuiltafleetof/balsas/withreedsandblown—outsheepskins,andfollowedhim。LandingontheislewestormedthecityoftempleswhichweremorewondrousandevenfullerofgoldandpreciousthingsthanthoseofCuzco。HerethemenofUrcofoughtdesperately,butdrivingthemfromstreettostreet,atlengthwepennedtheminoneofthelargestofthetemplesofwhichbysomemischanceareedroofwassetonfire,sothattheretheyperishedmiserably。ItwasadreadfulscenesuchasIneverwishtobeholdagain。Also,afterallUrcoandsomeofhiscaptains,breakingoutoftheburningtempleundercoverofthesmokeescaped,eitherin/balsas/or,asmanydeclare,byswimmingthelake。Atleasttheyweregonenorsearchaswemightonthemainlandcouldtheybefound。
　　Soallbeingfinished,exceptfortheescapeofUrco,wereturnedtoCuzcowhichKarienteredintriumph,Imarchingathisside,weariedoutwithwarandbloodshed。
　　CHAPTERXI
　　THEHOUSEOFDEATH
　　NowatonetimeduringthislongwaragainstUrcovictorysmileduponhim,thoughafterwardsthescalewentdownagainsthim。KariwasdefeatedinapitchedbattleandIwhocommandedanotherarmywasalmostsurroundedinavalley。Wheneverythingseemedlost,afterwardsIescapedbyleadingmysoldiersrounduptheslopeofamountainandsurprisingUrcointherear,butasitendedwellforusIneednotspeakofthatmatter。
　　Itwaswhileallwasatitsblackestforusthatacertainofficerwasbroughttomewhowascapturedwhilestrivingtodesert,oratleasttopassouroutposts。AsithappenedIknewthismanagainhaving,unseenmyself,notedhimonthepreviousdaytalkingearnestlytothehigh—priestLarico,who,withotherpriests,accompaniedmyarmy,perhapstokeepawatchonme。Itookthiscaptainapartandquestionedhimalone,threateninghimwithdeathbytormentifhedidnotrevealhiserrandtome。
　　Intheend,beingverymuchafraid,hespoke。FromhimIlearnedthathewasamessengerfromLaricotoUrco。Believingthatourdefeatwasalmostcertain,LaricohadsenthimtomakehispeacewithUrcobybetrayingallKari'sandmyownplanstohimandrevealinghowhemightmosteasilydestroyus。Hesaidalsothathe,Larico,hadonlyjoinedthepartyofUpanqui,andofKariafterhim,underthreatsofdeathandthatalwaysinhishearthehadbeentruetoUrco,whomheacknowledgedashisLordandastherightfulIncawhomhewouldhelptorestoretotheThronewithallthepowerofthePriesthoodoftheSun。Further,hesentbythisspyasecretmessagebymeansoflittlecordscunninglyknotted,whichknotsservedthesepeopleaswriting,sincetheycouldreadthemaswereadabook。
　　Now,beingalwaysdesirousofknowledge,Ihadcausedmyselftobeinstructedintheplanofthisknot—writingwhichbythistimeIcouldreadwellenough。ThereforeIwasabletospelloutthismessage。Itsaidshortlybutplainly,thatknowinghestilldesiredher,he,Larico,ashigh—priestwouldhandovertoUrcotheladyQuilla,daughtertotheKingoftheChancaswhounlawfullyhadbeenhiddenawayamongtheVirginsoftheSun,alsothathewouldbetrayme,theWhite—God—from—the—Seawhosoughttostealheraway,intoUrco'shands,thathemightkillmeifhecould。
　　WhenIhadmasteredallthisIwasfilledwithrageandbethoughtmethatIwouldcauseLaricotobetakenandsufferthefateoftraitors。
　　Soon,however,Ichangedthismindofmineandplacingthespyinclosekeepingwherenonecouldcomeathim,IsetawatchonLaricobutsaidnothingtohimortoKariofallthatIhadlearned。
　　AfewdayslaterourfortuneschangedandUrco,defeated,wasinfullflighttotheshoresofLakeTiticaca。AfterthisIknewwehadnothingmoretofearfromthisfox—heartedhigh—priestwhoaboveeverythingdesiredtobeonthewinningsideandtocontinueinhisplaceandpower。SoknowingthatIheldhimfastIbidedmytime,becausethroughhimaloneIcouldhopetocomeatQuilla。ThattimecameafterthewarwasoverandwehadreturnedtoCuzcointriumph。
　　AssoonastherejoicingswereoverandKariwasfirmlyseatedonhisthrone,IsentforLarico,which,asthegreatestmaninthekingdomaftertheInca,Iwasabletodo。
　　Heappearedinanswertomysummonsandwebowedtoeachother,afterwhichhebegantopraisemeformygeneralship,sayingthathaditnotbeenforme,UrcowouldhavewonthewarandthattheIncahaddonewelltonamemehisBrotherbeforethepeopleandtosaythattomeheowedhisthrone。
　　"Yes,thatistrue,"Ianswered,"andnow,sincethroughme,you,Larico,arethethirdgreatestmaninthekingdomandremainHigh—
　　PriestoftheSunandWhispererintheInca'sear,IwouldputyouinmindofacertainbargainthatwemadewhenIpromisedyouallthesethings,Larico。"
　　"Whatbargain,Lord—of—the—Sea。"
　　"ThatyouwouldbringmeandaVirginoftheSun,whowhileshewasoftheearthwasnamedQuilla,together,Larico,andenablehertoreturnfromthoseoftheSuntomyarms,Larico。"
　　Nowhisfacegrewtroubledandheanswered:
　　"Lord,Ihavethoughtmuchofthismatter,desiringaboveallthingstofulfilmywordandIgrievetotellyouthatitisimpossible。"
　　"Why,Larico？"
　　"BecauseIfindthatthelawofmyfaithisagainstit,Lord。"
　　"Isthatall,Larico？"Iaskedwithasmile。
　　"No,Lord。BecauseIfindthattheIncawouldnotsufferitandswearstokillallwhoattempttotouchtheladyQuilla。"
　　"Isthatall,Larico？"
　　"No,Lord。BecauseIfindthatawomanwhohasbeenbetrothedtooneoftheroyalbloodmayneverpasstoanotherman。"
　　"Nowperhapswecomenearertoit,Larico。YoumeanthatifthishappenedandperchanceafterallUrcoshouldcometothethrone,ashemightdoifKarihisbrotherdied——asanymanmaydie——hewouldholdyoutoaccount。"
　　"Yes,Lord,ifthatchanced,aschanceitmay,sinceUrcostilllivesandIhearisgatheringnewarmiesamongthemountains,certainlyhewouldholdmetoaccountforIhaveheardasmuch。AlsoourfathertheSunwouldholdmetoaccountandsowouldtheIncawhowieldshissceptreuponearth。"
　　Iaskedhimwhyhedidnotthinkofallthesethingsbeforewhenhehadmuchtogaininsteadofnowwhenhehadgainedthemthroughme,andheansweredbecausehehadnotconsideredthemenough。ThenI
　　pretendedtogrowangryandexclaimed:
　　"Youarearogue,Larico！Youpromiseandtakeyourpayandyoudonotperform。HenceforthIamyourenemyandonetowhomtheIncahearkens。"
　　"HehearkensstillmoretothisgodtheSunandtomewhoamthevoiceofGod,WhiteMan,"heanswered,addinginsolently,"Youwouldstriketoolate;yourpowerovermeandmyfortunesisgone,WhiteMan。"
　　"Ifearitisso,"Ireplied,pretendingtobefrightened,"soletussaynomoreofthematter。Afterall,thereareotherwomeninCuzcobesidesthisfairbrideoftheSun。Nowbeforeyougo,High—Priest,willyouwhoaresolearnedhelpmewhoamignorant？Ihavebeenstrivingtomasteryourmethodofconveyingthoughtsbymeansofknots。HereIhaveabundleofstringswhichIcannotaltogetherunderstand。Bepleasedtointerpretthemtome,OmostholyanduprightHigh—Priest。"
　　ThenfrommyrobeIdrewoutthoseknottedfibresthatIhadtakenfromhismessengerandheldthembeforeLarico'seyes。
　　Hestaredatthemandturnedpale。HishandgropedforhisdaggertillhesawthatminewasonthehiltofWave—Flame,whereonheletitfall。NextthethoughttookhimthatintruthIcouldnotreadtheknotswhichhebegantointerpretfalsely。
　　"Havedone,Traitor,"Ilaughed,"forIknowthemall。SoUrcomaywedQuillaandImaynot。Alsoceasetofretastothatmessengerofyoursforwhomyouseekfarandnear,sinceheissafeinmykeeping。
　　To—morrowItakehimtodeliverhismessagenottoUrco,buttoKari——
　　andthen,Traitor？"
　　NowLaricowho,notwithstandinghissternfaceandproudmanner,wasacowardatheart,felluponhiskneesbeforemetremblingandprayedmetosparehislifewhichlayinmyhand。WellheknewthatifonceitcametoKari'sears,evenahighpriestoftheSuncouldnothopetoescapetherewardofsuchtreacheryashis。
　　"IfIpardonyou,whatwillyougiveme？"Iasked。
　　"Theonlythingthatyouwilltake,Lord——theladyQuillaherself。
　　Hearken,Lord。OutsidethecityisthepalaceofUpanquiwhomUrcoslew。ThereinthegreathallthedivineIncasitsembalmedandintothatholypresencenonedareentersavetheVirginsoftheSunwhoseofficeitistowaituponthemightydead。To—morrowonehourbeforethedawn,whenallmensleep,IwillleadyoutothishalldisguisedintherobesofapriestoftheSun,sothatonthewaythithernonecanknowyou。ThereyouwillfindbutoneVirginoftheSun,theladywhomyouseek。Takeherandbegone。TherestIleavetoyou。"
　　"HowdoIknowthatyouwillnotsetsometrapforme,Larico？"
　　"Thus,Lord,thatIshallbewithyouandshareyoursacrilege。Alsomylifewillbeinyourhand。"
　　"Aye,Larico,"Iansweredgrimly,"andifaughtofillbefallsme,rememberthatthis,"andItouchedtheknottedcords,"willfinditswaytoKari,andwithitthemanwhowasyourmessenger。"
　　Henoddedandanswered:
　　"BesurethatIhavebutonedesire,toknowyou,Lord,andthiswomanwhom,beingmad,youseeksomadly,farfromCuzcoandnevertolookuponyourfaceagain。"
　　Thenwemadeourplansastowhenandwhereweshouldmeetandothermatters,afterwhichhedeparted,bowinghimselfawaywithmanysmiles。
　　IthoughttomyselfthattherewentasbigarogueasIhadeverknown,inLondonorelsewhere,andfelltowonderingwhatsnarehewouldsetforme,sincethatheplannedsomesnareIwassure。Why,then,didIpreparetofallintoit？Iaskedmyself。Theanswerwas,foradoublereason。First,althoughmywholeheartwassickwithlongingforthesightofher,now,aftermonthsofseeking,IwasnonearertoQuillathanwhenwehadpartedinthecityoftheChancas,norevershouldbewithoutLarico'said。Secondly,somevoicewithinmetoldmetogoforwardtakingallhazards,sinceifIdidnot,ourpartingwouldbeforalwaysinthisworld。Yes,thevoicewarnedmethatunlessIsavedhersoon,Quillawouldbenomore。AsHuarachahadsaid,therewasmorepoisoninCuzco,andmurdererswerenotfartoseek。Ordespairmightdoitsworkwithher。Orshemightkillherselfasonceshehadproposedtodo。SoIwouldgoforwardeventhoughthepathIwalkedshouldleadmetomydoom。
　　ThatdayIdidmanythings。Now,beingsogreatageneralandman——orgod——amongthesepeople,IhadthoseaboutmewhoweresworntomyserviceandwhomIcouldtrust。Foroneofthese,aprinceoftheIncablood,oftheHouseofKari'smother,IsentandgavetohimthoseknottedcordsthatweretheproofofLarico'streachery,biddinghimifaughtofevilovertookme,orifIcouldnotbefound,todeliverthemtotheIncaonmybehalfandwiththemtheprisonedmessengerwhowasinhiskeeping,butmeanwhiletoshowthemtonoman。HebowedandsworebytheSuntodomybidding,thinkingdoubtlessthat,myworkfinishedinthisland,IpurposedtoreturnintotheseaoutofwhichIhadrisen,asdoubtlessagodcoulddo。
　　NextIsummonedthecaptainsoftheChancaswhohadfoughtundermethroughoutthecivilwar,ofwhomabouthalfremainedalive,andbadethemgathertheirmenupontheridgewhereIhadstoodatthebeginningofthebattleoftheFieldofBlood,andwaituntilIjoinedthemthere。Ifitchanced,however,thatIdidnotappearwithinsixdaysIcommandedthattheyshouldmarchbacktotheirowncountryandmakereporttoKingHuarachathatIhad"returnedintothesea"forreasonsthathewouldguess。AlsoIcommandedthateightfamouswarriorswhomInamed,menofmyownbodyguardwhohadfoughtwithmeinallourbattlesandwouldhavefollowedmethroughfireorwaterorthegatesofHellthemselves,shouldcometothecourtyardofmypalaceafternightfall,bringingalitteranddisguisedasitsbearers,buthavingtheirarmshiddenbeneaththeircloaks。
　　Thesematterssettled,IwaitedupontheIncaKariandcravedofhimleavetotakeajourney。ItoldhimthatIwaswearywithsomuchfightinganddesiredtorestamidstmyfriendstheChancas。
　　Hegazedatmeawhile,thenstretchedouthissceptretomeintokenthatmyrequestwasgranted,andsaidinasadvoice:
　　"Soyouwouldleaveme,mybrother,becauseIcannotgiveyouthatwhichyoudesire。Bethinkyou。YouwillbenonearertotheMoon（bywhichhemeantQuilla）atChancathanyouareatCuzcoandhere,nexttotheInca,youarethegreatestintheEmpirewhobydecreearenamedhisbrotherandthegeneralofhisarmies。"
　　Now,thoughmygorgeroseatit,Iliedtohim,saying:
　　"TheMoonissetforme,solethersleepwhomIshallseenomore。
　　Fortherest,learn,OKari,thatHuarachahassworntomethatI
　　shallbe,nothisbrotherbuthisson,andHuarachaissick——theysaytodeath。"
　　"YoumeanthatyouwouldchoosetobeKingovertheChancasratherthanstandnexttothethroneamongtheQuichuas？"hesaid,scanningmesharply。
　　"Aye,Kari,"Ireplied,stilllying。"SinceImustdwellinthisstrangeland,Iwoulddosoasaking——noless。"
　　"Tothatyouhavearight,Brother,whoarefaraboveusall。Butwhenyouareaking,whatisyourplan？DoyoupurposetostrivetoconquermeandruleoverTavantinsuyu,asperchanceyoucoulddo？"
　　"Nay,Ishallnevermakewaruponyou,Kari,unlessyoubreakyourtreatywiththeChancasandstrivetosubduethem。"
　　"WhichIshallneverdo,Brother。"
　　ThenhepausedawhileandspokeagainwithmorepassionthatIhadeverknowninhim,saying:
　　"Wouldthatthiswomanwhocomesbetweenusweredead。Wouldthatshehadneverbeenborn。Intruth,Iammindedtopraytomyfather,theSun,thathewillbepleasedtotakehertohimself,forthenperchancewetwomightbeaswewereintheoldtimeyonderinyourEngland,andwhenwefacedperilssidebysideupontheoceanandintheforests。AcurseonWomantheDivider,andallthecursesofallthegodsuponthiswomanwhomImaynotgivetoyou。HadshebeenofmyHouseholdIwouldhavebiddenyoutotakeher,yes,evenifsheweremywife,butsheisthewifeofthegodandthereforeImaynot——
　　alas！Imaynot,"andhehidhisfaceinhisrobeandgroaned。
　　NowwhenIheardthesewordsIgrewafraidwhoknewwellthatsheofwhomtheIncapraystheSunthatshemaydie,doesdie,andswiftly。
　　"Donotaddtothislady'swrongsbyrobbingheroflifeaswellasofsightandliberty,Kari,"Isaid。
　　"Havenofear,Brother,"heanswered,"sheissafefromme。NowordshallpassmylipsthoughitistruethatinmyheartIwishthatshewoulddie。Goyourways,BrotherandFriend,andwhenyougrowwearyofkingshipifitcomestoyou,astotelltruthalreadyIgrowweary,returntome。Perchance,forgettingthatwehadbeenkings,wemightjourneyhencetogetherovertheworld'sedge。"
　　Thenhestooduponhisthroneandbowedtowardsme,kissingtheairasthoughtoagod,andtakingtheroyalchainthateveryIncaworefromabouthisneck,setituponmine。Thisdone,turning,heleftmewithoutanotherword。
　　WithaheavyheartIreturnedtomypalacewhereIdwelt。AtsundownI
　　ateaccordingtomycustom,anddismissedthosewhowaiteduponmetotheservants'quarters。Therewerebuttwoofthemformyprivatelifewassimple。ThenIslepttillpastmidnightandrising,wentintothecourtyardwhereIfoundtheeightChancacaptainsdisguisedaslitter—
　　bearersandwiththemthelitter。Iledthemtoanemptyguard—houseandbadethemstaythereinsilence。AfterthisIreturnedtomychamberandwaited。
　　AbouttwohoursbeforethedawnLaricocame,knockingontheside—dooraswehadplanned。Iopenedtohimandheentereddisguisedinahoodedcloakofsheep'swoolwhichcoveredhisrobesandhisface,suchaspriestswearwhentheweatheriscold。HegavetomethegarmentsofapriestoftheSunwhichhehadbroughtwithhiminacloth。IclothedmyselfinthemthoughbecauseofthefashionofthemtodothisImustberidofmyarmourwhichwouldhavebetrayedme。
　　LaricodesiredthatIshouldtakeofftheswordWave—Flamealso,but,mistrustinghim,thisIwouldnotdo,butmadeshifttohideitandmydaggerbeneaththepriest'scloak。ThearmourIwrappedinabundleandtookwithme。
　　Presentlywewentout,havingspokenfewwordssincethetimeforspeechhadgonebyandperilorsomefearofwhatmightbefallweigheduponourtongues。Intheguard—houseIfoundtheChancasatwhomLaricolookedcuriouslybutsaidnothing。TothemIgavethebundleofarmourtobehiddeninthelitterandwithitmylongbow,havingfirstrevealedmyselftothembyliftingthehoodofmycloak。ThenI
　　badethemfollowme。
　　LaricoandIwalkedinfrontandafteruscametheeightmen,fourofthembearingtheemptylitter,andtheotherfourmarchingbehind。
　　Thiswaswellplannedsinceifanysawusorifwemetguardsasonceortwicewedid,thesethoughtthatwewereprieststakingonewhowassickordeadtobetendedortobemadereadyforburial。Once,however,wewerechallenged,butLaricospokesomewordandwepassedonwithoutquestion。
　　AtlengthinthedarknessbeforethedawnwecametotheprivatepalaceofdeadUpanqui。AtitsgardengateLaricowouldhavehadmeleavethelitterwiththeeightChancawarriorsdisguisedasbearers。
　　Irefused,sayingthattheymustcometothedoorsofthepalace,andwhenhegrewurgent,tappedmysword,whisperingtohimfiercelythathehadbestbewarelestitshouldbehewhostayedatthegate。Thenhegavewayandweadvancedallofusacrossthegardentothedoorofthepalace。Laricounlockedthedoorwithakeyandweentered,heandIalone,forhereIbadetheChancasawaitmyreturn。
　　Wecreptdownashortpassagethatwascurtainedatitsend。PassingthecurtainsIfoundmyselfinUpanqui'sbanqueting—hall。Thishallwasdimlylitwithonehanginggoldenlamp。ByitslightIsawsomethingmorewondrousandofitssortmoreawfulthaneverIhadseeninthatstrangeland。
　　There,onadais,inhischairofgold,satdeadUpanquiarrayedinallhisgorgeousIncarobesandsomarvellouslypreservedthathemighthavebeenamanasleep。Witharmscrossedandhissceptreathisside,hesatstaringdownthehallwithfixedandemptyeyes,adreadfulfigureoflifeindeath。Abouthimandaroundthedaisweresetallhisriches,vasesandfurnitureofgold,andjewelspiledinheaps,theretoremaintilltherooffellinandburiedthem,sinceonthishallowedwealththeboldestdarednotlayahand。Inthecentreofthehall,also,wasatablepreparedasthoughforfeasters,foramidjewelledcupsandplattersstoodthemeatsandwineswhichdaybydaywerebroughtafreshbytheVirginsoftheSun。Doubtlessthereweremorewonders,buttheseIcouldnotseebecausethelightdidnotreachthem,ortothedoorwaysofthechambersthatopenedfromthehall。Moreover,therewassomethingelsewhichcaughtmyeye。
　　AtthefootofthedaiscrouchedafigurewhichatfirstItooktobethatofsomedeadonealsoembalmed,perhapsawifeordaughterofthedeadIncawhohadbeensetwithhiminthisplace。WhileIstaredatitthefigurestirred,havingheardourfootsteps,roseandturned,standingsothatthelightfromthehanginglampfellfulluponit。ItwasQuillacladinwhiteandpurplewithagoldenlikenessoftheSunblazoneduponherbreast！
　　Sobeauteousdidshelooksearchingthedarknesswithgreatblindeyesandherrichflowinghairflowingfrombeneathherjewelledheaddress,adiademfashionedtoresembletheSun'srays,thatmybreathfailedmeandmyheartstoodstill。
　　"Therestandsshewhomyouseek,"mutteredLaricoinamockingwhisper,forhereevenhedidnotseemtodaretotalkaloud。"Gotakeher,youwhommencallagod,butIcalladrunkenfoolreadytoriskallforawoman'slips。Gotakeherandasktheblessinguponyourkissesofyonderdeadkingwhoseholyrestyoubreak。"
　　"Besilent,"IwhisperedbackandpassedroundthetabletillIcamefacetofacewithQuilla。ThenastrangedumbnessfelluponmelikeaspellordeadUpanqui'scurse,sothatIcouldnotspeak。
　　Istoodtherestaringatthosebeautifulblindeyesandtheblindeyesstaredbackatme。PresentlyalookofunderstandinggatheredonthefaceandQuillaspoke,orrathermurmuredtoherself。
　　"Strange——butIcouldhavesworn！Strange,butIseemedtofeel！Oh！I
　　sleptinmyvigilsuponthatdeadoldmanwhoinlifewassofoolishandindeathappearstohavebecomesowise,andsleepingIdreamed。I
　　dreamedIheardastepIshallneverhearagain。IdreamedonewasnearmewhomIshallnevertouchagain。Iwillsleeponcemore,forinmydarknesswhatarelefttomesavesleepand——death？"
　　ThenatlastIfoundmytongueandsaidhoarsely,"Loveisleft,Quilla,and——life。"
　　Sheheardandstraightenedherself。Herwholebodyseemedtobecomerigidasthoughwithanagonyofjoy。Herblindeyesflashed,herlipsquivered。Shestretchedoutherhand,feelingatthedarkness。Herfingerstouchedmyforehead,andthencesheranthemswiftlyovermyface。