“Does this arrangement please thee, Setos?” asked Yermah, kindly, taking the hand of Setos in both his own, and reading his countenance closely.
“Since thou wilt no longer serve—Orondo is my second choice,” stammered Setos, politely, if not sincerely.
“And wilt thou have me for thy son?” asked Orondo, simply, but without a shade of animation.
The substitution of men was not so rapid as to prevent Setos from realizing the advantage to himself; so he answered readily and with heartiness:
“No man could desire a better or a more worthy son. Come with me to Ildiko.”
There were several degrees of dignity added to Setos as he linked his arm in Orondo’s and passed out of the building.
The crowd manifested some curiosity, which Setos noted out of the corner of his eye as they went by. If he had failed to win all he had played for, he had at least accomplished something.
Gratified ambition sent a glow of satisfaction through Setos which made him feel quite amiable toward Yermah, despite his fixed determination to either rule or ruin the Dorado—beloved of the people.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
FOR REASONS OF STATE—ORONDO ESPOUSES ILDIKO
Three months intervened between the betrothal announcement, immediately after Ildiko’s consent was obtained, and the beginning of the wedding festival, which lasted thirty days. This brought the actual consummation down to the time in October when the sun and moon were in conjunction.