Beginning at its commencement, she told him all the story of her life since, forty years ago, she had fled from among the People of the Mist, passing on rapidly, however, to that part of it which had to do with the capture and rescue of Juanna from the slave-traders, and with the promise that she had made to Leonard as the price of his assistance.

This promise, she was careful to explain, she had not intended to fulfil until she was forced to do so by Juanna herself.
Then she gave him a minute history of the object and details of their expedition, down to her final quarrel with Leonard and her mistress on the previous day.
To say that the old priest was thunderstruck at these extraordinary revelations would be too little; he was overwhelmed--so overwhelmed that for a while he could scarcely speak.
"It is fortunate for this jade of a mistress of yours, who dares to make a mockery of our goddess that she may steal her wealth, that I have sworn to save her from harm, daughter," he gasped at length, "else she had died, and swiftly.

At least, the others remain to me," and he sprang to his feet.
"Stay awhile, father," said Soa, catching his cloak, "what is your plan ?" "My plan?
To drag them to the temple and denounce them.

What else is there to do ?" "And thereby denounce yourself also, who proclaimed them gods.

I think I have a better." "Tell it then, daughter." "It is this.