Secondly, you give me, who am a king, the title of a petty chief who
owns your rule. Thirdly, you throw doubts upon my honour, hinting that I
may cause you to be murdered in the dark. Now I am minded to say to
you, 'Begone from my poor country, Lord Inca, in safety, but leave my
daughter behind you.'"
Now at these words, I, Hubert, saw the fires of hope burn up in the
large eyes of Quilla, as they did in my own heart, for might they not
mean that she would escape from Urco after all? But, alas, they were
extinguished like a brand that is dipped in water.
"Tush, tush!" said the old dotard, "what a fire-eater are you, friend
Huaracha. Know that I never care to eat, except at night; also that the
chill of the air after my father the Sun has set makes my bones ache,
and as for titles--take any one you like, except that of Inca."
"Mayhap that is the one I shall take before all is done," broke in the
furious Huaracha, who would not be quieted by the councillors whispering
in his ears.
It was at this moment that the minister and high-priest, Larico, who had
been noting all that passed with an impassive face, said coldly:
"Be not wroth, O King Huaracha, and lay not too much weight upon the
idle words of the glorious Inca, since even the gods will doze at times
when they are weighed down by the cares of empire.
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