be welcome. Until then, farewell!"

She remained standing, erect and passionless, as Carroll, with a cold
salutation, stepped back and disappeared in the darkness; and then she
turned, and, with tottering step and a little cry, fell upon Guest's
breast. "O Harry--Harry!--why have you deceived me!"

"I thought it for the best, darling," he said, lifting her face to his.
"You know now the prospect I spoke of--the hope that buoyed me up! I
wanted to win you myself alone, without appealing to your sense of
justice or even your sympathies! I did win you. God knows, if I had
not, you would never have learned through me that a son of Dr. West had
ever lived. But that was not enough. When I found that I could
establish my right to my father's property, I wanted you to marry me
before YOU knew it; so that it never could be said that you were
influenced by anything but love for me. That was why I came here
to-day. That was why I pressed you to fly with me!"

He ceased. She was fumbling with the buttons of his waistcoat.
"Harry," she said, softly, "did you think of the property
when--when--you kissed me in the conservatory?"

"I thought of nothing but YOU," he answered, tenderly.

Suddenly she started from his embrace. "But Pereo!--Harry--tell me
quick--no one-nobody can think that this poor demented old man
could--that Dr. West was--that--it's all a trick--isn't it?
Harry--speak!"

He was silent for a moment, and then said, gravely, "There were strange
men at the fonda that night, and--my father was supposed to carry money
with him. My own life was attempted at the Mision the same evening for
the sake of some paltry gold pieces that I had imprudently shown. I
was saved solely by the interference of one man. That man was Pereo,
your mayordomo!"

She seized his hand and raised it joyfully to her lips. "Thank you for
those words! And you will come to him with me at once; and he will
recognize you; and we will laugh at those lies; won't we, Harry?"

He did not reply. Perhaps he was listening to a confused sound of
voices rapidly approaching the cottage. Together they stepped out into
the gathering night. A number of figures were coming towards them,
among them Faquita, who ran a little ahead to meet her mistress.

"Oh, Dona Maruja, he has escaped!"

"Who? Not Pereo!"

"Truly. And on his horse. It was saddled and bridled in the stable
all day. One knew it not. He was walking like a cat, when sudde