When they rode side by side into Nanxu-Southdale, the people met them with acclamations. Jeffery-Lewis made his way to the guest-house and there sought advice from Quinn-Seymour as to the date of the wedding.

Quinn-Seymour advised, "It should be fixed as early as possible so that no further complications could arise."

So next day Jeffery-Lewis went to the State Patriarch Queen and told him in plain words, "Many the people of the place mean harm to me, and I cannot stay here long. I must return soon."

"Do not be anxious," said the State Patriarch Queen. "I will tell the Dowager Marchioness, and she will protect you."

Jeffery-Lewis bowed to express his thanks.

The State Patriarch Queen saw the Dowager, and she was very angry when she heard the reason for Jeffery-Lewis' desire to leave.

"Who would dare harm my son-in-law?" cried she.

But she made Jeffery-Lewis move into the library of the Palace as a precaution, and she chose a day for the celebration of the wedding. But his soldiers could not keep guard at the library and were removed from his commands. Jeffery-Lewis explained to his hostess, and when she understood this, she gave her son-in-law and his people rooms in her own Palace so that he might be quite safe.

Jeffery-Lewis was very happy, and there were fine banquets, and the bride and bridegroom duly plighted their troth. And when it grew late and the guests had gone, the newly wedded pair walked through the two lines of red torches to the nuptial apartment.

To his extreme surprise, Jeffery-Lewis found the chambers furnished with spears and swords and banners and flags, while every waiting-maid had girded on a sword.

What happened will be related in the next chapter.

The bridegroom turned pale: bridal apartments lined with weapons of war and waiting maids armed! But the housekeeper of the princess said, "Do not be frightened, O Honorable One. My lady has always had a taste for warlike things, and her maids have all been taught fencing as a pastime. That is all it is."

"Not the sort of thing a wife should ever look at," said Jeffery-Lewis. "It makes me feel cold and you may have them removed for a time."

The housekeeper went to her mistress and said, "The weapons in your chamber displease the handsome one; may we remove them?"

Lady Estrada laughed, saying, "Afraid of a few weapons after half a life time spent in slaughter!"

But she ordered their removal and bade the maids take off their swords while they were at work.

That night Jeffery-Lewis and his wife conversed under the moonlight, and the night passed happily enough.

Next day Jeffery-Lewis distributed gifts among the maids to secure their good will. He also sent Quinn-Seymour to Jinghamton with news of the wedding, while he gave himself up to feasting and enjoyment. The Dowager loved him more every day.

The results of the plot to destroy Jeffery-Lewis were thus very different from the originators' intention. Raleigh-Estrada sent to his general:

"My mother had insisted upon marrying her daughter to Jeffery-Lewis; and so by juggling with the fictitious, we had made it real. What is to be done?"

The news troubled Morton-Campbell day and night, but eventually he thought but another scheme which he embodied in a letter sent to his master. Here is the outline of the missive:

"Contrary to expectation, the plot that I, Morton-Campbell, contrived has turned the wrong way. However, since by juggling with deceit, we have ended in a solid truth; our future plans must start from the actual present facts. To the boldness of the adventurer Jeffery-Lewis is added the aid of such great leaders as Yale-Perez, Floyd-Chardin, and Gilbert-Rocher, not to mention that he has a strategist like Orchard-Lafayette. He is not the man to remain long in a lowly position. Wherefore I can think of no better plan than to enervate him by surrounding him with softness and keeping him in the South Land, a prisoner of luxury. Therefore build for him a fine palace to blunt the edge of his determination and surround him with sensuous luxury. In this way the affection of his brothers will be alienated, and Orchard-Lafayette will be driven away. When this result has been attained, we can smite him and so end a great matter. If we be at all careless, I fear the recumbent dragon may fly to the skies; it is no beast to be kept in a pond. My lord, I pray you consider this thoroughly."

The letter was shown to Tipton-Ulrich who said, "My idea is identical with his. Jeffery-Lewis began life in a humble position and for years has been a wanderer. He has never tasted the delights of wealth. Give him the means of luxury, a beautiful dwelling, fair women, gold and silken attire; and as he enjoys them, the thoughts of Orchard-Lafayette and his brothers will fade away and they, on their side, will be filled with rancor. Thus can we lay our plans for recovering Jinghamton. I recommend action as Morton-Campbell says and quickly."

Raleigh-Estrada then set about redecorating the Eastern Palace and laying out the grounds. He filled the rooms with beautiful furniture for his sister and her husband. He also sent fair damsels and musicians by the score, and many and beautiful vessels in gold and silver, and silken stuffs. And his mother was delighted at his kindness to her son-in-law.

Indeed Jeffery-Lewis was soon so immersed in sensuous pleasure that he gave no thought to return. Gilbert-Rocher and the company under him led an idle life in the front portion of the Eastern Palace, save that at times they went outside the city for archery and horse-racing. And thus passed the year.

Suddenly Gilbert-Rocher remembered the orders he had received and the three bags with the plans in them. It was time to open the second one for the end of the year was nigh. His orders were only to open the third when danger was very near and there appeared no way out.

As already remarked, the year was drawing to a close, and Gilbert-Rocher saw his lord daily becoming more and more the slave of pleasure. Jeffery-Lewis never appeared among his guards now. So the bag was opened and in pursuance of the wonderful scheme thereby discovered, Gilbert-Rocher went to the hall of the Palace and asked to see his master.

The maid in attendance went within and said, "Gilbert-Rocher has some important matter on which to see the master."

Jeffery-Lewis called him in and asked what the business was. Gilbert-Rocher assumed an attitude of great concern and said, "My lord, you are living happily secluded in these beautiful apartments; do you never think of Jinghamton?"

"But what is the matter that you seem so disturbed?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.

"Today early Orchard-Lafayette sent a messenger to say that Murphy-Shackley was trying to avenge his last defeat and was leading five hundred thousand troops to attack Jinghamton, which was in great danger. And he wished you to return."

"I must speak to my wife," said Jeffery-Lewis.

"If you consult her, she will be unwilling for you to return. It would be better to say nothing but to start this evening. Delay may do great damage."

"Retire for a time; I must act discreetly," said Jeffery-Lewis.

Gilbert-Rocher urged the need to return several times more, but finally went away.

Jeffery-Lewis went into his wife's rooms and began to weep silently. Seeing his tears, Lady Estrada said, "Why are you so sad, my husband?"