She hesitated before she went on,
“She might turn me out of this house and then Pythia and I would have nowhere to go and no income.”
“I would not let you starve,” Marcos Roca volunteered, “of that you can be sure, but there must be a solution.”
Erina raised her head from his shoulder.
“I love you – oh, Marcos – I love you. You are so clever – to think of some way that you can – save me!”
Her voice was pitiful and the tears were still running down her cheeks.
Marcos drew her closely to him.
Then Erina gave a little cry.
“I have an idea!”
They all looked at her and waited and after a moment she said,
“Pythia! Why should not Pythia marry the King? The Queen does not know she is here and she has never seen me!”
There was silence while both Marcos Roca and the Princess stared first
