Page:Frank Stockton - Vizier of the two-horned Alexander.djvu/113

TWO-HORNED ALEXANDER "That would have pleased her," said Mr. Crowder; "for she would have had me all the same, and you would have been out of the way."

"Then I would not have died," said the little Quakeress, almost fiercely; "I would not have done anything to please her. But I don't know. What did thee and thy wife do?"

"We talked and talked and talked," said Mr. Crowder, "and at last I persuaded her to live; that is to say, not to make herself an obstacle to the wishes of the empress. It was a terrible trial, but she consented. The more insignificant she became, I told her, the greater her chances of safety. "The next day the empress sent for me, as I was sure she would do.

"'You did not tell me,' she said, 'how many wives your men have.'  'That all depends upon the will of our sovereign,' I replied; 'in matrimonial affairs we do as we are commanded. When we have no commands from the throne, our circumstances regulate the matter."

"Thee did tell a dreadful lie while thee