“Is there then anything else that you wish very much, Lord?  A thought came to me, yonder at the City of the Chancas.  By the way, how lovely is that lady Quilla and how royal a woman.  It is most strange that she should have turned her mind towards an aged man like Upanqui.”

We looked at each other.

“Very strange,” I said.  “It seems to me sad also that this beauteous Quilla should be immured in a nunnery for life.  To tell you the truth, High-priest, since it is not good for man to live alone, rather than that such a thing should have happened I would have married her myself, to which perchance she might have consented.”

Again we looked at each other and I went on: 

“I hinted as much to Kari after we heard she was numbered amongst the Virgins, and asked him whether, should he become Inca, he would take her thence and give her to me.”

“What did he answer, Lord?”

“He said that though he loved me like a brother, first he would kill me with his own hand, since such a deed would be sacrilege against the Sun.  Last night also the Inca himself said much the same.”

“Is it so, Lord?  Well, we priests bring up our Incas to think thus.  If we did not, where would our power be, seeing that we are the Voice of the Sun upon earth and issue his decrees?”

“But do you always think thus yourselves, O High-priest?”

“Not quite always.  There are loopholes in every law of gods and men.  For example, I believe I see one in the instance of this lady Quilla.  But before we waste more time in talking—­tell me, White Lord, do you desire her, and if so, are you ready to pay me my price?  It is that you shall assure to me the friendship of the prince Kari, should he become Inca, and the continuance of my power and office.”

“My answer is that I do desire this lady, O High-priest, and that if I can I will obtain from Kari the promise of what you seek.  And now where is the loophole?”

“I seem to remember, Lord, that there is an ancient law which says—­that none who are maimed may be the wives of the Sun.  It is true that this law applies to them before they contract the holy marriage.  Still, if the point came up before me as high-priest, I might perhaps find that it applied also to those who were maimed after marriage.  The case is rare, for which precedents cannot be found if the search be thorough.  Now through the wickedness of Urco, as it happens, this lady Quilla has been blinded, and therefore is no longer perfect in her body.  Do you understand?”

“Quite.  But what would Upanqui or Kari say?  The Incas you declare are always bigots and might interpret this law otherwise.”

“I cannot tell, Lord, but let us cease from beating bushes.  I will help you if I can, if you will help me if you can, though I daresay that in the end you, who are not a bigot, must take the law into your own hands, as perhaps the lady Quilla, who is a moon-worshipper, would be willing to do also.”