hat you have met before in life; tell me, then, where and how.' There
was a frank, intrepid openness in the way he spoke, that seemed to say,
'We must deal freely with each other.'

'Of _me_ you need not to know anything,' said she proudly, as she arose.

'Not if you had not penetrated a great secret of mine,' said Massoni
sternly; 'you cannot deny it--you know who this youth is!'

'I know whom you would make him,' said she, in the same haughty tone.

'What birth and lineage have made him,--not any will of mine.'

'There are miracles too great for even priestcraft, holy father--this
is one of them. Nay, I speak not of his birth, it is of the destiny you
purpose for him. Is it now, in the midst of the glorious outburst
of universal freedom, when men are but awakening out of the long and
lethargic dream of slavery, that you would make them to return to
it; would you call them to welcome back a race whose badge has been
oppression? No, no, your Church is too wise, too far-sighted for such
an error; the age of monarchies is over; take counsel from the past, and
learn that, henceforth, you must side with the people.'

'So have we ever,' cried the Pere enthusiastically; 'yes, I maintain and
will prove it. Stay, you must not part with me so easily. You shall
tell me who you are. This weak pretence of Egyptian origin deceives not
_me_.'

'You shall know nothing of me,' was the brief reply.

'The Sacred Consulta will not accept this answer.'

'They will get none other, father.'

'Such acts as yours are forbidden by the canon law; be careful how you
push me to denounce them.'

'Does the Inquisition still live, then?' asked she superciliously.

'Sorcery is a crime, on the word of Holy Writ, woman; and again I say,
beware!'

'This is scarcely grateful, holy father; I came here to render you a
service.'

'And you are carrying away a secret, woman,' said the priest angrily.
'This must not be.'

'How would it advantage you, I ask,' said she calmly, 'were I to reveal
the whole story of my past life? it would give you no guarantee for the
future.'

'It is for _me_ to think of that. I only say, that I must and will know
it.'

'These are words of passion, holy father, not of that wise forethought
for which the world knows and reveres your name. Farewell.'

She waved her hand haughtily, and moved toward the door; but it was
locked, and resisted her hand. As she turned to remonstrate, Massoni was
gone! How, and by wha