can bear this no longer. Where are
Francisco and Otter?"

"Alas! Juanna, they are dead," he answered solemnly.

"Dead," she wailed, wringing her hand. "Francisco dead! Why then are we
still live?"

"Have courage and listen, Juanna. After you went to sleep in the palace,
Soa came to us with a plan which we accepted."

"What was the plan?" she asked hoarsely.

Twice he strove to tell her and twice he failed--the words would not
come.

"Go on. Why do you torment me?"

"It was this, Juanna: that Francisco should be dressed in the robe of
Aca, and offered up with Otter in your place, while you were hidden
away."

"Has it been done?" she whispered.

"I believe so," Leonard replied, bowing his head to his breast. "We are
prisoners in a secret cell beneath the feet of the statue. There has
been great noise and confusion without, and now for some time silence."

Then Juanna sprang up and stood over him with flashing eyes.

"How dared you do this?" she said. "Who gave you leave to do it? I
thought that you were a man, now I see that you are a coward."

"Juanna," said Leonard, "it is useless for you to talk like this.
Whatever was done was done for your sake, not for that of anybody else."

"Oh, yes, you say so, but I believe that you made a plot with Soa to
murder Francisco in order that you might save your own life. I have done
with you. I will never speak to you again."

"You can please yourself about that," answered Leonard, who by now was
thoroughly enraged, "but I am going to speak to you. Look here, you have
said words to me for which, were you a man, I would do my best to be
avenged upon you. But as you are a woman I can only answer them, and
then wash my hands of you. As you must know, or will know when you come
to your right mind, I would gladly have taken Francisco's place. But it
was impossible, for had I attempted to dress myself up in the robe of
Aca, I should instantly have been discovered, and _you_ would have paid
the price of my folly. We all knew this, and after we had consulted,
things were arranged as I have told you. I only consented to your being
brought here on the condition that I was allowed to accompany you for
your protection. Now I wish that I had left it alone and gone with
Francisco, then perhaps I should have found peace instead of bitter
words and reproaches. However, do not be afraid, for I think it probable
that I shall soon follow him. I know that you were very fond of this
man