Rising up from his throne, he came towards her with outstretched arms.

"I am already married," she cried, bursting into tears and throwing
herself at his feet. "Do not dishonour me! Let me return to my own
house."

"Who has dared to marry the daughter of my chief headman without my
consent?" said the old king, his eyes rolling in anger. "Whoever he is,
he shall die at once."

Imoinda began to fear for Oroonoko, and tried to undo the effect of her
words.

"He--he is not exactly my husband yet," she stammered. "But, oh, I love
him! I love him! And I have promised to marry him."

"That's nothing," said the king, his eyes now lighting up with pleasure.
"You must be my wife."

In the afternoon, Oroonoko, who had gone in search of Imoinda, returned.
Having heard that she had received the royal veil, he came in so violent
a rage that his men had great trouble to save him from killing himself.

"What can I do?" he cried desperately. "Even if I slew my grandfather, I
could not now make Imoinda my wife."


_II.--A White Man's Treachery_