and lofty aspirations to which the queen had given expression; asking
him finally how he could possibly associate those sentiments and
aspirations with a woman of such a character as he believed that of
Bimbane to be.

"Quite impossible, Chia'gnosi," he answered, "if she were sincere in
their expression."

"And how do you know that she is not?" I demanded hotly.

"How do you know that she is?" he retorted. "You have only her word for
it; she has not furnished you with a shadow of proof. It is easy for a
woman--or a man--to express exalted sentiments and lofty aspirations,
even though she--or he--may not feel them. As a matter of fact, I
entertain the precise sentiments and have the same aspirations with
which you credit Bimbane; but I suppose you will require something more
than my bare assertion before you will believe me. Yet why should you
doubt me, and believe her? I will tell you. It is because she has
thrown the spell of her magic over you! You tell me that yesterday she
cast you into a trance wherein you saw the way which you must follow in
order to find the captive child of your friend. By allowing her to do
that, you afforded her an opportunity to get you under her influence and
into her power; and to-day, when you fell asleep while she was
conversing with you, she was simply testing and strengthening her power
over you. You believed that your sleep lasted but a second or two; I
believe that it may have lasted half an hour or longer, during which she
was getting more complete control over you: and when at length she
aroused you from your trance she simply resumed her conversation at the
point where it had broken off at the moment when you lost consciousness;
hence you imagined--as she intended you should--that you had been asleep
but for a moment."

"I will not believe it," I exclaimed hotly. "Nothing shall convince me
that any woman could be so base as to take such dastardly advantage of a
man as you suggest."

"Has the mischief indeed gone so far as that?" demanded Anuti, soberly
enough now. "Then I am very sorry for you, Chia'gnosi; very sorry for
us all. For in that case you will never be permitted to leave
Bandokolo, never have the opportunity to rescue the captive daughter of
your friend; while as for the rest of us, we shall inevitably be plunged
into a disastrous civil war, in which many of Bandokolo's highest and
best will be slain. Probably Bimbane, aided by you, will triumph; but,