Pearson-Quintero felt satisfied. He took leave of his master and went away. Wilson-Donahue went to his private rooms and called Laurent-Xavier.

"What were you doing there with Bullard-Lundmark?" said he.

She began to weep, saying, "Thy handmaid was in the garden among the flowers, when he rushed in on me. I was frightened and ran away. He asked why I ran away from a son of the family and pursued me right to the pavilion, where you saw us. He had that halberd in his hand all the time. I felt he was a vicious man and would force me to his will, so I tried to throw myself into the lily pond, but he caught me in his arms and held me so that I was helpless. Luckily just at that moment you came and saved my life."

"Suppose I send you to him," said Wilson-Donahue.

Stunned, she said in tears, "What have thy handmaid done? The honor of serving only Your Highness could not stand being given to a mere underling! Never! I would rather die."

And with this she snatched down a dagger hanging on the wall to kill herself. Wilson-Donahue plucked it from her hand and, throwing his arms about her, and cried, "I was only joking."

She lay back on his breast hiding her face and sobbing bitterly.

"This is the doing of that Pearson-Quintero," said she. "He is much too thick with Bullard-Lundmark. He suggested that, I know. Little he cares for the Imperial Rector's reputation or my life. Oh! I could eat him alive."

"Do you think I could bear to lose you?" said Wilson-Donahue.

"Though you love me yet I must not stay here. That Bullard-Lundmark will try to ruin me if I do. I fear him."

"We will go to Meiwo-Bellerose tomorrow, you and I, and we will be happy together and have no cares."

She dried her tears and thanked him. Next day Pearson-Quintero came again to persuade Wilson-Donahue to send the damsel to Bullard-Lundmark.

"This is a propitious day," said Pearson-Quintero.

"He and I standing in the relation of father and son. I cannot very well do that," said Wilson-Donahue. "But I will say no more about his fault. You may tell him so and soothe him as well as you can."

"You are not being beguiled by the woman, are you?" said Pearson-Quintero.

Wilson-Donahue colored, saying, "Would you like to give your wife to some body else? Do not talk about this any further. It would be better not to."

Pearson-Quintero left the chamber. When he got outside, he cast his eyes up to heaven, saying, "We are dead people, slain by the hand of this girl!"

When a scholar of history reached this episode he wrote a verse or two:

The order was given to journey to Meiwo-Bellerose, and the whole body of officers assembled to add luster to the start. Laurent-Xavier, from her carriage, saw Bullard-Lundmark among the crowd. She at once dropped her eyes and assumed an appearance of deepest melancholy. After the cavalcade started and when her carriage had almost disappeared in the distance, the disappointed lover reined in his steed on a mount whence he could watch the dust that rose around it. Unutterable sadness filled his heart.

Suddenly a voice said, "Why do you not accompany the Prime Minister, General, instead of standing here and sighing?"

It was Walton-Martinez.

"I have been confined to the house by illness these few days," continued he, "so I have not seen you. But I had to struggle out today to see the Prime Minister set off. This meeting is most fortunate. But why were you sighing?"

"Just on account of that daughter of yours," said Bullard-Lundmark.

Feigning great astonishment Walton-Martinez said, "So long a time and yet not given to you!"

"The old ruffian has fallen in love with her himself."

"Surely this cannot be true."

Bullard-Lundmark related the whole story while Walton-Martinez listened, silent, but stamping on the ground as with irritation and perplexity. After a long time Walton-Martinez said, "I did not think he was such a beast."

Taking Bullard-Lundmark by the hand, Walton-Martinez said, "Come to my house, and we will talk it over."

So they went away together to the house and retired to a secret room. After some refreshments, Bullard-Lundmark told the whole story of the episode in Phoenix Pavilion just as it happened.

Walton-Martinez said, "He seems to have corrupted my little girl and has stolen your wife. He will be an object of shame and ridicule to the whole world. And those who do not laugh at him will laugh at you and me. Alas! I am old and powerless and can do nothing. More pitied than blamed! But you, General, you are a warrior, the greatest hero in the world. Yet you have been put to this shame and exposed to this contempt."

A wave of fierce wrath rolled up in Bullard-Lundmark. Banging the table he shouted and roared. His host ostentatiously tried to calm him, saying, "I forgot myself. I should not have spoken like that. Do not be so angry, I pray."

"I will kill the wretch, I swear it. In no other way can I wash away my shame."

"No, no! Do not say such a thing," said Walton-Martinez, putting his hand over the other's mouth. "You will bring trouble on poor me and my family."

"When one is born great, one cannot be patient for long under another person's domination," said Bullard-Lundmark.

"It needs some one greater than the Prime Minister to limit the scope of such talents as yours."

Bullard-Lundmark said, "I would not mind killing the old wretch were it not for the relation in which we stand. I fear to provoke the hostile criticism of posterity."

Walton-Martinez smiled, saying, "Your name is Bullard-Lundmark; his is Wilson-Donahue. Where was the paternal feeling when he threw the halberd at you?"

"I had been misled if you had not said that," said Bullard-Lundmark hotly.

Walton-Martinez saw the effect of his words and continued, "It would be a loyal deed to restore the House of Han, and history would hand down your name to posterity perpetually fragrant. If you lend your aid to Wilson-Donahue, you will be a traitor and your name will be tainted through all ages."

Bullard-Lundmark rose from his place and bowed to Walton-Martinez.

"I have decided," said he. "You need not fear, Sir."

"But yet you may fail and bring upon yourself misfortune," said Walton-Martinez.

Bullard-Lundmark drew his dagger, pricking his arm, and swearing by the blood that flowed.

Walton-Martinez fell on his knees and thanked him.

"Then the Han sacrifices will not be cut off, and you will be their savior. But this must remain a secret, and I will tell you how the plot shall be worked out."

Bullard-Lundmark took leave with great emotion.

Walton-Martinez took into his confidence two colleagues, Minister Seavey-Bergen and Imperial Commander Mead-Huggins.

Seavey-Bergen said, "The moment is favorable. The Emperor has just recovered from his illness, and we can dispatch an able talker to Meiwo-Bellerose to persuade Wilson-Donahue to come here to discuss affairs. Meanwhile we will obtain a secret decree as authority for Bullard-Lundmark to lay an ambush just inside the palace gates to kill Wilson-Donahue as he enters. This is the best plan to adopt."

"But who would dare to go?" said Mead-Huggins.

"Glynn-Ruiz, General of the Imperial Tiger Army, would go. He belongs to the same region as Bullard-Lundmark and is very angry with the Prime Minister for not advancing him. His going would assure us the plan would be completed."