Is
this true, my lord Hurachi?"
"Ask of the Lady Quilla, O King."
"Mayhap I have asked and at last it seems that you make no denial. Now
hearken, my lord Hurachi. You are my honoured guest and save one thing,
all I have is yours, but you must talk no more alone with the lady
Quilla in gardens at night."
Now, making no attempt to deny or explain which I saw would be useless,
since he knew it all, I asked boldly:
"Why not?"
"I thought that perchance my daughter had told you, Lord Hurachi, but if
you desire to hear it from my own lips also, for this reason. The lady
Quilla is promised in marriage and if she lives that promise must be
fulfilled, since on it hangs the fate of nations. Therefore, it is,
although to grieve to part such a pair, that you and she must meet no
more in gardens or elsewhere. Know that if you do, you will bring about
her death and your own, if gods can die."
Now I thought awhile and answered:
"These are heavy words, King Huaracha, seeing that I will not hide from
you that I love your daughter well and that she, who is great-hearted,
loves me well and desires me for her husband.
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