"Why have you pursued me here ?" "You do me far too great an honor." I made her a low bow, thoroughly confident I held the whip hand, provided only I did not overplay my part.

"It is the merest accident of fate which has thus thrown me again across your path.

Nor have I the slightest desire to cause you trouble, only that through your power may come our safety." "You--you have not followed me, then ?" "No." I saw she was diligently studying my face in the dim light, vainly endeavoring to recall where, under what circumstances, we had met before.
"Who are you ?" "Bah! what difference can a name make?
Surely you are careless enough about your own to be lenient with another choosing to forget." "You also are a fugitive ?" I caught the sudden ring of hope in her voice, saw a new light flash into her eyes.
"I have fled the Spaniards," I answered carelessly enough.

"What odds is that, so long as what I did has been for France?
Still, as I say, I have no desire to play you harm provided you deal justly with us all." "Harm?
You?
How could you harm me ?" she questioned, evidently more at ease from the change in my tone of speech.

"You presume, senor; surely you forget you address the Queen of the Nahuacs; that even in our remnant there remain more than a hundred warriors to do my bidding! I can laugh at threats, senor." I stared at her coldly.
"As you please, Madame _la reine_ Naladi, Daughter of the Sun, formerly woman of--ah! so you do not care for me to speak that accursed word?
Well, I thought you might not, so I spare you the shame.