“The mammaconas,” gasped Natividad. “We can have no doubts now.... Speak, Libertad.... Speak, and God may forgive you.”
“Yes, the mammaconas,” said the negro lad, feverishly.... “But I did not know.... God will forgive me.... The señorita, too, will forgive me.... You must save her.... She was so good to me.... And I betrayed her... betrayed her for two hundred silver soles.... They did not know I understood Aimara... they said that Atahualpa would have a beautiful bride.... And they fell on their faces before her when she passed.”
“You saw her, then?” demanded the Marquis, bending low over the prostrate figure at his feet to catch the faint words.
“Yes, I saw her.... She was so good.... And I sold her for two hundred silver soles.”
“Tell us how it happened,” interrupted Natividad. “Was she no longer unconscious?”
“She came out of the room, held up by women in black veils... the three dwarfs were dancing around her.... She seemed to be in a dream... they have terrible poisons and perfumes.... My sweet señorita... wrapped in a gold veil... her face was hidden... only her eyes, staring sightlessly before her.... The mammaconas were all round her... and the dwarfs were dancing. I saw it all, because they had left me alone, and I looked out of the window... they put her on a mule... in front of one of the mammaconas... and the others followed.... Yes, señor, it is true... all these stories you hear in the ranchos.... Quite true... the dwarfs followed, señor.... Oviedo was there... they had prepared everything in this hacienda.... I believe they murdered the owner and all his people....
“Yes, I saw it all.... I did not care then that I had not been paid.... I watched.... And the Red Ponchos carried off my mistress... they are taking her to the Temple of the Sun.... It is the Interaymi.... But you will find them first... You must.... And God will forgive me.”
Libertad closed his eyes and fell back, but seemed to recover his forces with the last flicker of life, and opened them again.
“What happened to you?” asked Natividad. “Was it in trying to save your mistress?...”
Libertad smiled bitterly, and tried to cross himself, but his arm fell nerveless by his side.