od's sake, for Christ,
His Mother, tempt me not! I can stand no more--" he burst forth with
vehemence.

"What troubles thee, Alvarado?" she said softly.

"Thou--and my plighted word."

"You chose honor and duty last night when you might have had me. Art
still in the same mind?"

"Senorita, this subject is forbidden."

"Stop!" cried the girl, "I absolve you from all injunctions of silence.
I, too, am a de Lara, and in my father's absence the head of the house.
The duty thou hast sworn to him thou owest me. Art still in the same
mind as last night, I say?"

"Last night I was a fool!"

"And this morning?"

"I am a slave."

"A slave to what? To whom?"

"Donna Mercedes," he cried, turning an imploring glance upon her, "press
me no further. Indeed, the burden is greater than I can bear."

"A slave to whom?" she went on insistently, seeing an advantage and
pressing it hard. She was determined that she would have an answer. No
conviction of duty or feeling of filial regard was strong enough to
overwhelm love in this woman's heart. As she spoke she flashed upon him
her most brilliant glance and by a deft movement of her bridle hand
swerved the jennet in closer to his barb. She laid her hand upon his
strong arm and bent her head close toward him. They were far from the
others now and the turns of the winding road concealed them.

"A slave to whom? Perhaps to--me?" she whispered.

"Have mercy on me!" he cried. "To you? Yes. But honor, duty----"

"Again those hateful words!" she interrupted, her dark face flushing
with anger. "Were I a man, loved I a woman who loved me as I--as I--as
one you know, I would have seized her in spite of all the world! Once
she had fled to the shelter of my arms, while life beat in my heart none
should tear her thence."

"Thy father----"

"He thinks not of my happiness."

"Say not so, Donna Mercedes."

"'Tis true. It is a matter of convenient arrangement. Two ancient names,
two great fortunes cry aloud for union and they drown the voice of the
heart. I am bestowed like a chattel."

"Don Felipe----"

"Is an honorable gentleman, a brave one. He needs no defense at my
hands. That much, at least, my father did. There is no objection to my
suitor save that I do not love him."

"In time--in time you may," gasped Alvarado.

"Dost thou look within thine own heart and see a fancy so evanescent
that thou speakest thus to me?"

"Nay, not so."

"I believe thee, and were a thousand