“Yes, my lord,” answered the man in the cloak; “but only in case the eagle should become a serpent.”

“And, in the contrary event, you will receive the other half of the ivory crucifix I gave you.”

“I shall know what it means, my lord.”

“Continue to merit and preserve his confidence.”

“I will merit and preserve it, my lord, because I admire and respect this man, who is stronger than the strongest, by craft, and courage, and will.  I have knelt before him with humility, as I would kneel before one of the three black idols that stand between Bowanee and her worshippers; for his religion, like mine, teaches to change life into nothingness.”

“Humph!” said the voice, in a tone of some embarrassment; “these comparisons are useless and inaccurate.  Only think of obeying him, without explaining your obedience.”

“Let him speak, and I perform his will!  I am in his hands like a corpse, as he himself expresses it.  He has seen, he sees every day, my devotion to his interests with regard to Prince Djalma.  He has only to say:  ’Kill him!’and this son of a king—­”

“For heaven’s salve, do not have such ideas!” cried the voice, interrupting the man in the cloak.  “Thank heaven, you will never be asked for such proofs of your submission.”

“What I am ordered I do.  Bowanee sees me.”

“I do not doubt your zeal.  I know that you are a loving and intelligent barrier, placed between the prince and many guilty interests; and it is because I have heard of that zeal, of your skill in circumventing this young Indian, and, above all, of the motives of your blind devotion, that I have wished to inform you of everything.  You are the fanatical worshipper of him you serve.  That is well; man should be the obedient slave of the god he chooses for himself.”

“Yes, my lord; so long as the god remains a god.”

“We understand each other perfectly.  As for your recompense, you know what I have promised.”

“My lord, I have my reward already.”

“How so?”

“I know what I know.”

“Very well.  Then as for secrecy—­”

“You have securities, my lord.”

“Yes—­and sufficient ones.”

“The interest of the cause I serve, my lord, would alone be enough to secure my zeal and discretion.”

“True; you are a man of firm and ardent convictions.”

“I strive to be so, my lord.”

“And, after all, a very religious man in your way.  It is very praiseworthy, in these irreligious times, to have any views at all on such matters—­particularly when those views will just enable me to count upon your aid.”

“You may count upon it, my lord, for the same reason that the intrepid hunter prefers a jackal to ten foxes, a tiger to ten jackals, a lion to ten tigers, and the welmiss to ten lions.”

“What is the welmiss?”

“It is what spirit is to matter, the blade to the scabbard, the perfume to the flower, the head to the body.”