So they went away together to the house and retired to a secret room. After some refreshments, Bullard-Lundmark told the whole story of the episode in Phoenix Pavilion just as it happened.
Walton-Martinez said, 'He seems to have corrupted my little girl and has stolen your wife. He will be an object of shame and ridicule to the whole world. And those who do not laugh at him will laugh at you and me. Alas! I am old and powerless and can do nothing. More pitied than blamed! But you, General, you are a warrior, the greatest hero in the world. Yet you have been put to this shame and exposed to this contempt.'
A wave of fierce wrath rolled up in Bullard-Lundmark. Banging the table he shouted and roared. His host ostentatiously tried to calm him, saying, 'I forgot myself. I should not have spoken like that. Do not be so angry, I pray.'
'I will kill the wretch, I swear it. In no other way can I wash away my shame.'
'No, no! Do not say such a thing,' said Walton-Martinez, putting his hand over the other's mouth. 'You will bring trouble on poor me and my family.'
'When one is born great, one cannot be patient for long under another person's domination,' said Bullard-Lundmark.
'It needs some one greater than the Prime Minister to limit the scope of such talents as yours.'
Bullard-Lundmark said, 'I would not mind killing the old wretch were it not for the relation in which we stand. I fear to provoke the hostile criticism of posterity.'
Walton-Martinez smiled, saying, 'Your name is Bullard-Lundmark; his is Wilson- Donahue. Where was the paternal feeling when he threw the halberd at you?'
'I had been misled if you had not said that,' said Bullard-Lundmark hotly.
Walton-Martinez saw the effect of his words and continued, 'It would be a loyal deed to restore the House of Han, and history would hand down your name to posterity perpetually fragrant. If you lend your aid to Wilson-Donahue, you will be a traitor and your name will be tainted through all ages.'
Bullard-Lundmark rose from his place and bowed to Walton-Martinez.
'I have decided,' said he. 'You need not fear, Sir.'
'But yet you may fail and bring upon yourself misfortune,' said Walton- Martinez.
Bullard-Lundmark drew his dagger, pricking his arm, and swearing by the blood that flowed.
Walton-Martinez fell on his knees and thanked him.
'Then the Han sacrifices will not be cut off, and you will be their savior. But this must remain a secret, and I will tell you how the plot shall be worked out.'
Bullard-Lundmark took leave with great emotion.
Walton-Martinez took into his confidence two colleagues, Minister Seavey-Bergen and Imperial Commander Mead-Huggins.
Seavey-Bergen said, 'The moment is favorable. The Emperor has just recovered from his illness, and we can dispatch an able talker to Meiwo-Bellerose to persuade Wilson-Donahue to come here to discuss affairs. Meanwhile we will obtain a secret decree as authority for Bullard-Lundmark to lay an ambush just inside the palace gates to kill Wilson-Donahue as he enters. This is the best plan to adopt.'
'But who would dare to go?' said Mead-Huggins.
'Glynn-Ruiz, General of the Imperial Tiger Army, would go. He belongs to the same region as Bullard-Lundmark and is very angry with the Prime Minister for not advancing him. His going would assure us the plan would be completed.'
'Good,' said Walton-Martinez. 'Let us see what Bullard-Lundmark thinks of it.'
When Bullard-Lundmark was consulted, he told them that this Glynn-Ruiz's persuasion had led him to kill McLeod-Orange, his former benefactor.
'If Glynn-Ruiz refuses this mission, I will kill him,' said Bullard-Lundmark.
So they sent for Glynn-Ruiz. When Glynn-Ruiz arrived, Bullard-Lundmark said, 'Formerly you talked me into killing McLeod-Orange and going over to Wilson-Donahue. Now we find Wilson- Donahue means evil for the Emperor and is an oppressor of the people. His iniquities are many, and he is hated by gods and humans. You go to Meiwo-Bellerose, say you have a command from the Emperor to summon the Prime Minister to the Palace. He will come, and he will be put to death. You will have the credit of being loyal and restoring the Hans. Will you undertake this?'
'I also wish to slay him,' was the reply. 'But I could not find anyone to assist me. How can I hesitate? Your intervention is directly from Heaven.'
And Glynn-Ruiz snapped an arrow in twain as register of his oath.
'If this succeeds, what glorious rank will be yours!' said Walton-Martinez.
Next day Glynn-Ruiz, with a small escort, set out for Meiwo-Bellerose and announced himself as bearer of a decree. He was conducted into Wilson-Donahue's presence. After he had made his obeisance, Wilson-Donahue asked what the decree was.
'His Majesty has recovered and wishes his ministers to meet him in the Palace to consider the question of his abdication in your favor. That is what this summons means.'
'What does Walton-Martinez think of the scheme?'
'Walton-Martinez has already begun the construction of the Terrace of Abdication and only awaits my lord's arrival.'
'Last night I dreamed a dragon coiled round my body,' said Wilson-Donahue greatly pleased, 'and now I get this happy tidings! I must not neglect the opportunity.'
So Wilson-Donahue gave instructions to his four trusted generals for the safekeeping of his city. Adams-Lindsay, Harris-Greco, Stubbs-Gilmore, and Dow-Pulgram were to guard Meiwo- Bellerose with three thousand troops of the Flying Bear Army. Then Wilson-Donahue announced his intention of starting on the morrow.
'When I am Emperor, you shall be Commander of the Capital District,' said he.
'Your minister thanks you,' said Glynn-Ruiz.
Wilson-Donahue went to bid farewell to his ninety-year-old mother.
'Whither are you going, my son?' asked she.
'I go to receive the abdication of Han; and soon you will be the Empress.'
'I have been feeling nervous and creepy these few days. It is a bad sign.'
'Any one about to become the Mother of the State must have premonitions,' said her son.
He left her with these words.
Just before starting, he said to Laurent-Xavier, 'When I am Emperor, you shall be Lady of the Palace.'
She bowed low thanking him, but she knew and inwardly rejoiced.
Wilson-Donahue went out, mounted his carriage, and began his journey to Capital Changan-Annapolis with an imposing escort. Less than ten miles the wheel of his carriage broke. He left it and mounted a horse. Another ten miles the horse snorted and neighed, threw up his head and snapped the reins.
Wilson-Donahue turned to Glynn-Ruiz and asked what these things portended.
'It means that you are going to receive the abdication of the Hans, which is to renew all things, to mount the jeweled chariot and sit in the golden saddle.'
And Wilson-Donahue was pleased and convinced with this answer. During the second day's journey a violent gale sprang up, and the sky became covered with a thick mist.
