staring boldly at him; since everything in the
exotic atmosphere was in keeping, even to the parrot at her elbow and
the heavy, honey-sweet perfume filling the room, he was unable to shake
off, as he wished to, the impression made upon him.

"In your heart," said Zoraida gravely, "you censure me for empty
by-play, you accuse me of vain trifling. You are wrong, Senor
Americano! And soon you will know you are wrong. There is no woman
throughout the wide sweep of my country or yours who has the work to do
that I have to do; the destiny to fulfil; or the power to wrest from
the gods that which she would have. And will have!"

Steadfast conviction, fearlessly voiced, rang through her speech. What
she said she meant with all of the fiery ardor of her being. Her
words spoke her thought. Whatever the fate which she judged was hers
to fulfil, she accepted it with a fervor not unlike some ecstatic
religious devotion. Of all this he was confident on the instant; she
might surround herself with colorful accessories but her purpose was
none the less serious.

"Symbols, if you like," she said carelessly--she had been staring at
him profoundly and well might have glimpsed something of his train of
thought--"as are statues and pictures symbols in the Roman church. My
bright colored bird is older now than you will be, or I, when we die.
Age, bright feathers and chatter! My puma means much to me that you
would not understand, being of another race. Further, did you or
another lift a hand against his mistress he would tear out your throat."

"You have had me brought here for some purpose?" said Kendric.

She sat forward, straight in her chair, her two hands gripping the
carved arms.

"Did I not tell you when first we spoke together that I had use for
you? Since then have I not sent myself into your thoughts many times?
Did I not come to you, that you should remember, on the boat that
brought you here?"

"I am no man for mysteries," he said. "Tell me: Did you somehow get
aboard the _New Moon_ at San Diego? Or did my fancy play me a trick?"

"You ask me questions!" she mocked. "When you would believe what
pleased you, no matter what word I spoke! If I said that across the
miles, over mountain and desert and water I sent my spirit to
you--would you believe?"

"No. Not when there are other readier explanations."

She raised a quick hand and pointed to the parrot.

"Chatter! Questions put when you do not expect