"Ah! you are not satisfied. You want to try one more experiment. But, just think!" he went on, a hint of mockery in his voice; "all that legend of your people, about a stranger who would appear from a far-off land and restore the Chibcha Empire--why spoil so pretty a picture? And the chances are, you will spoil it. I warn you----" A flash of anger checked his words. "I have pledged myself for your safety," she reminded him; "keep out of danger! I don't care for your warnings. Help this man in the way that I have asked, and as you say you can. You've tried often enough to injure him. The consequences to me from what you do now--leave all that for me to choose. Oh, never fear! I will repay your service." David understood little of what was said, although he strove to piece out a meaning. He perceived he was the subject of their talk. From Sajipona's angry tone, moreover, he knew that she was offended. The consequent resentment that he felt in her behalf was strengthened by an instinctive feeling of suspicion and dislike toward Raoul. Checking a movement of repulsion, he appealed to Sajipona. "Let me throw him out of here," he demanded abruptly. "Oh, on the contrary!" smiled the queen, not unpleased at his attitude. "He is here because I have asked him to come--and you will help me if you do what he tells you." "Do what he tells me? No! Why, Sajipona, what new whim have you got in that beautiful head of yours? Something's wrong. It must be that I've offended you." He took her hand, stroking it caressingly, while his eyes sought hers in unrestrained admiration. "This is hard," he went on, in a low tone, half laughter, half reproach. "You are always so good, gracious as a queen should be. Now you tell me to do what an enemy of yours commands. As your enemy means mine, that is unreasonable. I fear," he added playfully, touching her hands with his lips, "I will have to disobey you, just this once, even if you are a great queen. When I am king, and we rule our jolly cave together, as you said we would, it won't be so bad, I suppose. Men like this, certainly, won't be around to bother us. How did he get here? I thought one law of this kingdom--and a very good law it is, too--was to keep people out." "But you got in." "I suppose I did," he assented dreamily. "But I'm not sure how it happened." "That's just it. This man will tell you. His name is Raoul Arthur." David looked at him blankly, repeating the name. Raoul moved out of the shadow of the bed hangings, his eyes fixed on David's. His lips parted as if to speak, but the words were checked by an imperative gesture from the man before him.