"And Don Hypolito succeeded," said Jack, with a shudder. "The wretch! he had made up his mind to seize me from the moment I set foot in Acauhtzin. Oh, if I can only escape, how dearly will I make him pay for all this treachery." At this moment Cocom darted in at the door. "Señor, the priest, Ixtlilxochitli, is climbing the steps. Hide yourself, lady. You must not be seen with my lord." "Why not?" asked Jack, as they arose to their feet. "Can you ask, after what I have told you?" whispered Dolores, hurriedly. "The priest knows I love you, and if we were seen together you would be detained in prison until the day of the sacrifice. Not even your character of a god could save you from that. Cocom contrived our meeting here, and the priests suspect nothing. Trust to Cocom! He will tell you our plans of escape. Adios! I must hide!" "When will I see you again, angelito?" said Jack, kissing her hurriedly. "To-morrow night, in the secret way. Adios!" She ran rapidly towards the shrine, and vanished behind the image of the war-god, while Jack followed Cocom out on to the vast platform of the pyramid. Midway on the steps they saw the old high priest, painfully climbing upward. "Will he not find Doña Dolores in there, Cocom, and thus guess we have met?" "No, Señor. He but comes to see that the sacred fire burns. That the opal yet spins before the god. If the fire should go out, or the opal stand still, great calamities would befall the city. Only does the opal pause when it prophesies." "How is it managed?" "Santissima! Señor, I know not. But come, let us go down. Ixtlilxochitli will just look at the fire, and then descend, after which the Doña Dolores can come down and regain her palace without being seen." "Is the shrine thus frequently left alone?" "Yes, Señor. Save at festivals, it is deserted. But a priest climbs to the temple every five hours, to see that the sacred fire burns. But see, Ixtlilxochitli is near us. Be cautious, my lord." When Jack paused on his downward way, the priest coming up at once knelt on the steps to show his reverence. "Tell the old fool to get up," said Jack, angrily, being weary of such mummery. "My lord bids you rise, Ixtlilxochitli!" translated Cocom, more politely. The priest arose, with his hands folded across his breast, and, with downcast eyes, addressed Cocom. "Has my lord seen the holy shrine, and the thrice sacred Chalchuih Tlatonac?" "Yes; my lord has been graciously pleased to look at these things." "It is well! My lord should know well the sacred shrine, so that on the great day he be prepared to act his part, as saviour of the city, with dignity." "Deuce take your dignity!" cried Jack, in a rage when this polite speech was translated. "I say Cocom, cannot we knock this old reprobate down the steps; he wouldn't get up again in a hurry." "Nay, nay, Señor! such a course would not be wise," replied Cocom, hastily thinking that Jack was about to carry his threat into execution.