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.  Then my father sighed and said that it should be as I willed.  And I said with the priests, that now in our sore distress the proud must humble themselves to the dust, even to the marrying of a captive slave who is named a god and doomed to sacrifice.  So I, princess of the Otomie, have consented to become your wife, O Tezcat, though perchance had I known all that I read in your eyes this hour, I should not have consented.