h
awaits us all. Farewell.'

When he had gone I rose, and leaving the gardens I passed into the
chamber where it was my custom to give audience to those who wished to
look upon the god Tezcat as they called me. Here I sat upon my golden
couch, inhaling the fumes of tobacco, and as it chanced I was alone, for
none dared to enter that room unless I gave them leave. Presently the
chief of my pages announced that one would speak with me, and I bent
my head, signifying that the person should enter, for I was weary of my
thoughts. The page withdrew, and presently a veiled woman stood before
me. I looked at her wondering, and bade her draw her veil and speak. She
obeyed, and I saw that my visitor was the princess Otomie. Now I rose
amazed, for it was not usual that she should visit me thus alone. I
guessed therefore that she had tidings, or was following some custom of
which I was ignorant.

'I pray you be seated,' she said confusedly; 'it is not fitting that you
should stand before me.'

'Why not, princess?' I answered. 'If I had no respect for rank, surely
beauty must claim it.'

'A truce to words,' she replied with a wave of her slim hand. 'I come
here, O Tezcat, according to the ancient custom, because I am charged
with a message to you. Those whom you shall wed are chosen. I am the
bearer of their names.'

'Speak on, princess of the Otomie.'

'They are'--and she named three ladies whom I knew to be among the
loveliest in the land.

'I thought that there were four,' I said with a bitter laugh. 'Am I to
be defrauded of the fourth?'

'There is a fourth,' she answered, and was silent.

'Give me her name,' I cried. 'What other slut has been found to marry a
felon doomed to sacrifice?'

'One has been found, O Tezcat, who has borne other titles than this you
give her.'

Now I looked at her questioningly, and she spoke again in a low voice.

'I, Otomie, princess of the Otomie, Montezuma's daughter, am the fourth
and the first.'

'You!' I said, sinking back upon my cushions. 'YOU!'

'Yes, I. Listen: I was chosen by the priests as the most lovely in the
land, however unworthily. My father, the emperor, was angry and said
that whatever befell, I should never be the wife of a captive who must
die upon the altar of sacrifice. But the priests answered that this was
no time for him to claim exception for his blood, now when the gods were
wroth. Was the first lady in the land to be withheld from the god? they
asked. T