Pachatupec husbands had the power of life and death over their wives, and they were as jealous and as cruel as Moors.

Yet death was better than the life she was compelled to lead, and as she was fully cognizant of the risk it seemed my duty to do all that I could to facilitate her escape.
Then another thought occurred to me.

Could this be a trap, a "put up job," as the phrase goes.

Though the _caciques_ had not dared to make any open protest against Mamcuna's matrimonial project, I knew that they were bitterly opposed to it, and nothing, I felt sure, would please them better than to kindle the queen's jealousy by making it appear that I was engaged in an intrigue with one of Chimu's wives.
Yet no, I could not believe it.

No Christian woman would play so base a part.