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"Who--who are you?" she faltered "Surely we have never met before?"

"As you know already, I aret that your memory is so faulty"

"What is it you know of , Madame," and I threw into the utterance of these words all the irony possible "It is not altogether strange Madaet acquaintances of other days, even her native tongue, living so long in the wilderness"

It was a reckless shot, but somehow it struck the mark

"I ahter of the Sun"

"No doubt; 'tis a neat superstition hich to overawe savages, yet there was one once across the water greatly reseer, perhaps,--yet as content then with a title not nearly so high-sounding, until--oh, well, what need to tell the rest? Of course, it was not you?"

I would never have believed so sudden a change could co, had I not witnessed it with these eyes She had sunk back against the couch, her hands pressing her breast as if to still the wild throbbing of the heart, her great eyes staring atspeech, yet no articulated sound issued from between them

"Are you a fiend from hell?" she sobbed at last "Why have you pursued reat an honor" I hly confident I held the whip hand, provided only I did not overplay my part "It is the ain 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 followedto recall where, under what circumstances, we had met before

"Who are you?"

"Bah! what difference can a nah 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 hare in et you address the Queen of the Nahuacs; that even in our remnant there reh at threats, señor"