advantage of a closer acquaintance than I can boast," Leonard
answered gravely, mentally contrasting the difference of her manner in
acknowledging the priest's services and his own.

From that hour till a certain conversation opened his eyes, struggle
as he would against it, Leonard disliked Francisco. He had a foolish
British aversion to his class, and Juanna's marked partiality towards
this particular individual did not lessen it in this instance. Prejudice
is a strong thing, and when it is heightened by suspicion and jealousy,
especially jealousy of the unacknowledged kind, it becomes formidable,
both to him who entertains it and to him against whom it is entertained.

When their meal was done they proceeded up the river in the boats which
they had captured from the slavers, each boat being rowed by the best
oarsmen among the Settlement men. Including women and children their
party numbered some sixty souls. At evening they passed the island where
they had left the company of slavers, but could see no sign of life upon
it, and never learned whether the men perished or escaped.

An hour later they encamped upon the bank of the river, and it was while
they were sitting round the fire at night that Juanna told Leonard of
the horrors which she had undergone during her dreadful sojourn with the
slave caravan. She told him also how she had torn leaves from the
Bible which she chanced to have with her, and fixed them upon the reeds
whenever she could find an opportunity of so doing, in the hope that
they might guide her father, should he return and attempt her rescue.

"It is all like a nightmare," she said; "and as for that hideous farce
of marriage with which it ended, I can scarcely bear to think of it."

Then Francisco, who had been sitting silent, spoke for the first time.

"You speak, senora," he said in his subdued voice, "of that 'hideous
farce of marriage,' and I suppose you mean the ceremony which I
performed between you and the Senor Outram, being forced to the act by
Pereira. It is my duty to tell you both that, however irregular this
marriage may have been, I do not believe it to be a farce. I believe
that you are lawfully man and wife until death shall part you, unless
indeed the Pope should annul the union, as he alone can do."

"Nonsense, nonsense," broke in Leonard; "you forget that there was
no consent; that we are of another religion, and that the form was
necessary to our plot."

"The Church know