"How did you get her away? Some one must have helped you. If you would save yourself the anguish of torture, speak the truth," cried Lodivarman, his voice trembling with rage.
"Lodivarman, the King, knows better than any other how I took Fou-tan from him," replied the American.
"I do not mean that," screamed Lodivarman, trembling. "Siva will see that you suffer sufficient agonies for the indignity that you put upon me, but I can curtail that if you will reveal your accomplices."
"I had no accomplices," replied King. "I took the Princess and walked out of your palace and no one saw me."
"How did you get out?" demanded Lodivarman.
King smiled. "You are going to torture me, Lodivarman, and you are going to kill me. Why should I give you even the gratification of satisfying your curiosity? Wantonly you have already destroyed three men in your anger. I shall be the fourth. The life of any one of us is worth more than yours. If I could I would not add further to the debt that you must pay in the final accounting when you face God beyond the grave."
"What do you know, stranger, of the gods of the Khmers?" demanded Lodivarman.
"I know little or nothing of Brahma, of Vishnu, or Siva," replied King, "but I do know that above all there is a God that kings and tyrants must face; and in His eyes even a good king is no greater than a good slave, and of all creatures a tyrant is the most despicable."
"You would question the power of Brahma, of Vishnu, and of Siva!" hissed Lodivarman. "You dare to set your God above them! Before you die then, by the gods, you shall seek their mercy in your anguish."
"Whatever my suffering may be, you will be its author, Lodivarman," replied King. "The gods will have nothing to do with it."