and as for titles--take any one you like, except that of Inca."

"Mayhap that is the one I shall take before all is done," broke in the
furious Huaracha, who would not be quieted by the councillors whispering
in his ears.

It was at this moment that the minister and high-priest, Larico, who had
been noting all that passed with an impassive face, said coldly:

"Be not wroth, O King Huaracha, and lay not too much weight upon the
idle words of the glorious Inca, since even the gods will doze at times
when they are weighed down by the cares of empire. No affront was meant
to you and least of all does the Inca or any one of us, dream that you
would tarnish your honour by offering violence to your guests by day
or by night. Yet know this, that if, after all that has been sworn, you
withhold your daughter, the lady Quilla, from the house of Urco who is
her lord to be, it will breed instant war, since as soon as word of it
comes to Cuzco, which will be within twenty hours, for messengers wait
all along the road, the great armies of the Inca that are gathered there
will begin to move. Judge, then, if you have the strength to withstand
them, and choose whether you will live on in glory and honour, or
bring yourself to death and your people to slavery. Now, King Huaracha,
speaking on behalf of Urco, who within some few moons will be Inca, I
ask you--will you suffer the lady Quilla to journey with us to Cuzco
and thereby proclaim peace between our peoples or will you keep her here
against your oath and hers, and thereby declare war?"

Huaracha sat silent, lost in thought, and the old Inca Upanqui began to
babble again, saying:

"Very well put, I could not have said it better myself; indeed, I did
say it, for this coxcomb of a Larico, who thinks himself so clever
just because I made him high-priest of the Sun under me and he is of my
blood, is after all nothing but the tongue in my mouth. You don't really
want to die, Huaracha, do you, after seeing most of your people killed
and your country wasted? For you know that is what must happen. If you
do not send your daughter as you promised, within a few hours a hundred
thousand men will be marching on you and another hundred thousand
gathering behind them. Anyhow, please make up your mind one way or
another, as I wish to leave this place."

Huaracha thought on awhile. Then he descended from his throne and
beckoned to Quilla. She came and he led her towards the back part of
the pa