"Thy handmaid has promised not to recoil from death itself. You may use my poor self in any way, and I must do my best."
"But if this gets abroad then we are all lost!"
"Fear not;" said she, "if thy handmaid does not show gratitude, may she perish beneath a myriad swords!"
"Thank you, thank you!" said Walton-Martinez.
Then Walton-Martinez took from the family treasury many pearls and bade a cunning jeweler make therewith a fine golden headdress, which was sent as a present to Bullard-Lundmark. He was delighted and came to thank the donor. When Bullard-Lundmark arrived, he was met at the gate by Walton-Martinez himself and within found a table full of dainties for his delectation. He was conducted into the private apartments and placed in the seat of honor.
Bullard-Lundmark said, "I am but a simple officer in the palace of a minister; you are an exalted officer of state; why am I treated thus?"
"Because in the whole land there is no hero your equal. Poor Walton-Martinez bows not to an officer's rank; poor Walton-Martinez bows to his ability "
This gratified Bullard-Lundmark mightily, and his host continued to praise and flatter and ply him with wine and to talk of the virtues of the Prime Minister and his henchman.
Bullard-Lundmark laughed and drank huge goblets.
Presently most of the attendants were sent away, only a few kept to press the guest to drink. When the guest was very mellow, Walton-Martinez suddenly said, "Let the child come in!"
Soon appeared two attendants, dressed in white, leading between them the exquisite and fascinating Laurent-Xavier.
"Who is this?" said Bullard-Lundmark startled into sobriety.
"This is my little girl, Laurent-Xavier. You will not be annoyed at my familiarity, will you? But you have been so very friendly, I thought you would like to see her."
Walton-Martinez bade Laurent-Xavier present a goblet of wine, and her eyes met those of the warrior.
Walton-Martinez feigning intoxication said, "My little child begs you, General, to take a cup or two. We all depend upon you, all our house."
Bullard-Lundmark begged Laurent-Xavier to sit down. She pretended to wish to retire. Her master pressed her to remain, saying that she might do so since the guest was a dear friend. So she took a seat modestly near her master.
Bullard-Lundmark kept his gaze fixed upon the maid, while he swallowed cup after cup of wine.
"I should like to present her to you as a handmaid; would you accept?" said Walton-Martinez.
The guest started up.
"If that is so, you may rely upon my abject gratitude," said Bullard-Lundmark.
"We will choose a propitious day ere long and send her to the palace."
Bullard-Lundmark was overjoyed. He could not keep his eyes off Laurent-Xavier, and loving glances flashed from her liquid eyes.
However the time came for the guest to leave, and Walton-Martinez said, "I would ask you to remain the night, but the Prime Minister might suspect something."
Bullard-Lundmark thanked him again and again and departed.
Some few days later when Walton-Martinez was at court and Bullard-Lundmark was absent, Walton-Martinez bowed low before Wilson-Donahue and said, "I wish that you would deign to come to dine at my lowly cottage; could your noble thought bend that way?"
"Should you invite me, I would certainly hasten," was the reply.
Walton-Martinez thanked him. Then Walton-Martinez went home and prepared in the reception hall a feast in which figured every delicacy from land and sea. Beautiful embroideries surrounded the chief seat in the center, and elegant curtains were hung within and without. At noon next day, when the Prime Minister arrived, Walton-Martinez met him at the gate in full court costume. Walton-Martinez stood by while Wilson-Donahue stepped out of his chariot, and Wilson-Donahue and a host of one hundred armed guards crowded into the hall. Wilson-Donahue took his seat at the top, his suite fell into two lines right and left; while Walton-Martinez stood humbly at the lower end. Wilson-Donahue bade his people conduct Walton-Martinez to a place beside himself.
Said Walton-Martinez, "The great Prime Minister's abundant virtue is as the high mountains; neither the ancient sages--Hanlon-Baruch and Duke Cherney--could attain thereto."
Wilson-Donahue smiled. They bore in the dishes and the wine, and the music began. Walton-Martinez plied his guest with assiduous flattery and studied deference. When it grew late and the wine had done its work, Wilson-Donahue was invited to the inner chamber. So he sent away his guards and went.
Here the host raised a goblet and drank to his guest, saying, "From my youth up I have understood something of astrology and have been studying the aspect of the heavens. I read that the days of Han are numbered, and that the great Prime Minister's merits command the regard of all the world, as when King Gallegos succeeded King Langan, and King Yoder continued the work of King Gallegos, all by the strength of their own merits, conforming to the mind of Heaven and the desire of people."
"How dare I expect this?" said Wilson-Donahue.
"From the days of old, those who walk in the way have replaced those who deviate therefrom; those who lack virtue have fallen before those who possess it. Can one escape fate?"
"If indeed the decree of Heaven devolves on me; you shall be held the first in merit!" said Wilson-Donahue.
Walton-Martinez bowed. Then lights were brought in and all the attendants were dismissed, save the serving maids to hand the wine. So the evening went on.
Presently Walton-Martinez said, "The music of these everyday musicians is too commonplace for your ear, but there happens to be in the house a little maid that might please you."
"Excellent!" said the guest.
Then a curtain was lowered. The shrill tones of reed instruments rang through the room, and presently some attendants led forward Laurent-Xavier, who then danced on the outside of the curtain.
A poem praises her:
Another poem runs thus:
The dance ended. Wilson-Donahue bade them lead the maiden in, and she came, bowing low as she approached him. He was much taken with her beauty and modest grace.
"Who is she?" said Wilson-Donahue.
"A singing girl; her name is Laurent-Xavier."
"Then can she sing?"
The master bade her sing, and she did so to the accompaniment of castanets. There is a measure describing her youthful beauty: