helpless woman to be his wife, one whose crime is that she
deceived him to save her husband."

She paused, and, clasping her hands as though in prayer, looked up into
his troubled face with beseeching eyes; then, as he did not speak, she
went on:

"King, I have one more word to say. You are the strongest and you can
take me, but you cannot hold me, for that hour would be my last, and you
but the richer by your broken honour and a dead bride."

Olfan was about to answer when Soa, fearing lest Juanna's pleading
should prevail against his passion, broke in saying, "Be not fooled,
King, by a woman's pretty speeches, or by her idle threats that she will
kill herself. She will not kill herself, I know her well, she loves her
life too much; and soon, when you are wed, she will love you also, for
it is the nature of us women to worship those who master us. Moreover,
that man, the Deliverer, is not her husband, except in name; for months
I have lived with them and I know it. Take her, King, take her now,
this hour, or live to mourn her loss and your own folly all your life's
days."

"I will not answer that slave's falsehoods," said Juanna, drawing
herself up and speaking proudly, "and it were more worthy of you not
to listen to them, King. I have spoken; now do your will. Be great or
little, be noble or be base, as your nature teaches you."

And suddenly she sank to the ground and, shaking her long hair about her
face and arms, she burst into bitter weeping.

Twice the King glanced at her, then he turned his head as though he dare
look no more, and spoke keeping his eyes fixed upon the wall.

"Rise, Queen," he said hoarsely, "and cease your tears, since you are
safe from me. Now as always I live to do your will, but I pray you, hide
your face from me as much as may be, for, Lady, my heart is broken with
love for you and I cannot bear to look on that which I have lost."

Still sobbing, but filled with admiration and wonder that a savage could
be thus generous, Juanna rose and began to murmur thanks, while the
captains stared, and Soa mocked and cursed them both.

"Thank me not," he said gently. "It seems that you, who can read all
hearts, have read mine aright, or perchance you fashioned it as you
would have it be. Now, having done with love, let us to war. Woman, what
is the secret of that door?"

"Find it for yourself," snarled Soa. "It is easy to open when once you
know the spring--like a woman's heart, Olfan. Or if