c saw a
ragged section of the heavens, bright with stars, and at first he
failed to see the remote walls because of the shrubbery everywhere.
Here was a strange underground garden that might have been the
courtyard to an oriental monarch's palace, a region of spraying
fountains, of heavily scented flowers, of berry-bearing shrubs, of
birds of brilliant plumage. It was night; the stars cast small light
down here into the depths of earth; and yet it was some moments before
the startled Kendric asked himself the question: "Where does the full
light come from?" And it was still other moments before he located the
first of the countless lamps, lamps with green shades lost behind
foliage, lamps set in recesses, lamps everywhere but cunningly placed
so that one was bathed in their light without having the source of the
illumination thrust into notice.

That here, at some long dead time of Mexican history, had been the
retreat of some barbaric king Kendric did not doubt from the first
sweeping glance. He knew something of the way in which the ancient
monarchs had builded pleasure palaces for their luxurious relaxation;
how whole armies of slaves, captured in war, were set at a giant task
like other captives in older days in Egypt; he knew how thousands, tens
of thousands of such poor wretches hopelessly toiled to build with
their misery places of flowers and ease; how to celebrate many a temple
or palace completed these poor artificers in a mournful procession of
hundreds or thousands as the dignity of the endeavor required, went to
the sacrifice. Now, standing here at Zoraida's side in this great
still place, these thoughts winged to him swiftly, and for the moment
he felt close to the past of Mexico.

"What was once the country place of Nezahualcoyoti, the Golden King of
Tezcuco," said Zoraida, "is now the favorite garden of Zoraida. For
the great Nezahualcoyoti captive workmen, laboring through the days and
nights of many years, builded here as we see, my friend. Here he was
wont to come when he would have relief from royal labor and intrigue,
to shut himself up with music and feasting and those he loved. Here he
came, be sure, with the beloved princess whom he ravished away from the
old lord of Tepechpan. And here she remained awaiting him when he
returned to the royal place at Tezcotzinco. And here were placed, four
hundred and fifty years ago, the ashes of the golden king and of his
beloved princess--and here t