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This was the charge which, it will be noted, contained no allusion whatever to the love entanglement between Maqueda and Oliver.
I remember Maqueda and Orme falling into each other's arms before everybody. I remember her drawing herself up in that imperial way of hers, and saying, as she pointed to the body of Quick: "There lies one who has shown us how to die. This countryman of yours was a hero, O Oliver, and you should hold his memory in honour, since he saved me from worse than death."
"There is one more place to show you," said Maqueda, when we had inspected the stables and argued as to what possible causes could have induced the ancients to keep horses underground, "which perhaps you will think worth a visit, since it holds the treasures that are, or shall be, yours. Come!"
These men bowed to the veiled Maqueda and, turning toward where we stood in a little group apart, bowed to us also. But of Joshua, who was there supported by two servants, for he could not yet stand alone, and the other notables and priests of the Abati, they took not the slightest heed. "Speak," said Maqueda.
If we risk our lives and do our work, we are not too proud to take whatever we can earn. Why should we be, seeing that some of us need wealth, and that our brother, who is as good as dead yonder, owing to the treachery of those who were sent to guard him, has relatives in England who are poor and should be compensated for his loss?" "Why, indeed?" ejaculated Maqueda. "Listen, now, my friends.
Then we were shown in ceremoniously, and made our bows to Maqueda, who was seated, surrounded by some of the judges and officers, among them, Prince Joshua, and talking to two rough-looking men clad in ordinary brown robes. She greeted us, and after the exchange of the usual compliments, said: "Friends, I have summoned you for this reason.
Surrender the Gentiles, hand over to us the person of the Child of Kings of whom you have taken possession, and return to your post till the pleasure of the Prince Joshua be known." Then the wrath of Maqueda blazed up. "Seize those men!" she said, and it was done instantly.
Then he rose from the chair, touched his throat to show that he could not speak, as I suppose, saluted Orme, turned and pointed to Maqueda, and with a triumphant smile sank down and died. Such was the noble end of Sergeant Quick. To describe what followed is not easy, for the scene was confused. Also shock and sorrow have blurred its recollection in my mind.
He dropped his hands and stared. " the woman Maqueda whom once it is said you loved still lives." Then the hood slipped back, and in the glow of the rising sun we saw the face beneath. It was that of Maqueda herself! A silence followed that in its way was almost awful. "My Lord Oliver," asked Maqueda presently, "do you accept my offering of Queen Sheba's ring?"
To these Oliver explained that even if that were possible it would be useless to clear out the old passage and at the end find ourselves once more in the den of lions. "What, then, is your plan?" asked Maqueda. "Lady," he answered, "I, your servant, am instructed to attempt to destroy the idol Harmac, by means of the explosives which we have brought with us from England.
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