e would not have been
there!

"But why, Excellentissimo?" asked the Countess, entreatingly. "What is
there to grieve you in giving their freedom to two men--gentlemen,
neither of whom has been guilty of crime, and who are in prison only for
offences your Excellency can easily pardon?"

"Not so easily as you think, Condesa. You forget that I am but official
head of the State, and have others to consult--my Ministers and the
Congress--in affairs of such magnitude. Know, too, that both these men
for whom you solicit pardon have been guilty of the gravest offences;
one of them, a foreigner, an enemy of our country, taken in arms against
it; the other, I am sorry to say, a citizen, who has become a rebel, and
worse still, a robber!"

"'Tis false!" exclaimed the Countess, all at once changing tone, and
seeming to forget the place she was in and the presence. "Don Ruperto
Rivas is no robber; never was, nor rebel either; instead, the purest of
patriots!"

Never looked Ysabel Almonte lovelier than at that moment--perhaps never
woman. Her spirit roused, cheeks red, eyes sparkling with indignation,
attitude erect--for she had started up from her chair--she seemed to be
the very impersonation of defiance, angry, but beautiful. No longer
meek or supplicating now. Instinct or intuition told her it would be of
no use pleading further, and she had made up her mind for the worst.

The traits of beauty which her excitement called forth, added piquancy
to her natural charms, and inflamed Santa Anna's wicked passions all the
more. But more than any of them revenge. For now he knew how much the
fair petitioner was interested in the man whose suit she had preferred.
With a cold cynicism--which, however, cost him an effort--he rejoined:

"That, perhaps, is your way of thinking, Condesa. But it remains to be
proved--and the prisoner you speak of shall have an opportunity of
proving it--with his innocence in every respect. That much I can
promise you. The same for him," he added, turning to Luisa Valverde,
"in whom, if I mistake not, the Dona Luisa is more especially
interested. These _gentlemen_ prisoners shall have a fair trial, and
justice done them. Now, ladies! can you ask more of me?"

They did not; both seeing it would be to no purpose. Equally
purposeless to prolong the interview; and they turned toward the door,
the daughter of Don Ignacio leading where she had before followed.

This was just as Santa Anna wishe