Page:Gaston Leroux--The bride of the sun.djvu/108

94 "The next day, the sack of the city began. Never had the Spaniards seen so much gold and silver. Atahualpa, quick to see their greed, offered Pizarro to buy his liberty by covering with gold the floor of the room in which they were. Finally, he declared that he would not only cover the floor, but also fill the room as high as he could reach.

"With that, he made a mark on the wall with his fingertip; and Pizarro, accepting, ordered a red line to be drawn round the room at that height. The room was seventeen feet by twenty-two long, and the line was drawn nine feet from the ground."

At this point, the red priest stopped and walked slowly to a ruined wall. "Here," he said, pointing to a still faintly visible line, "was the mark of the ransom.

"Atahualpa, moreover, promised to fill a neighboring room with silver, and asked for two months in which to fulfil the task. His messengers, chosen among the Spaniards' prisoners, were despatched into all the provinces of the Empire.

"Meanwhile, the Inca was closely watched, for his captivity meant not only Pizarro's security, but also fabulous riches for the Conquistadors. The room filled gradually, Indians arriving daily with golden goblets, platters, vases and