t. Do againa all the time. What do you think 'e do with 'er when
'e 'ave 'er out there in Pobledo an' all those places? Vaya! I tell
you, sir. 'E want to live on 'er. 'E wanta make 'er too bad. Then
she run lika devil. Sir, I tell you what she say to me other days.
'When I saw 'im come longside Don Osmundo,' she say, 'I look in 'is
face an' I see Death. 'E grin at me--then I know why 'e come. 'E talk
very nice--soft, lika gentleman--then I know what 'e want. I say, Son
of a dog, never!'"

"Poor girl," said Manvers, greatly concerned.

"Thata quite true, sir," Gil Perez agreed. "Very unfortunate fine
girl. But you know what we say in Espain. Make yourself 'oney, we
say, and the flies willa suck you. Manuela too much 'oney all the
time. I know that, because she tell me everything, to tell you."

"Don't tell me," said Manvers.

"Bedam if I do," said Gil Perez.

CHAPTER XIV

TRIAL BY QUESTION

The court was not full when Manvers and his advocate, with Gil Perez in
attendance, took their places; but it filled up gradually, and the
Judge of First Instance, when he took his seat upon the tribunal, faced
a throng not unworthy of a bull-fight. Bestial, leering, inflamed
faces, peering eyes agog for mischief, all the nervous expectation of
the sudden, the bloody or terrible were there.

There was the same dead hush when Manuela was brought in as when they
throw open the doors of the _toril_, and the throng holds its breath.
Gil Perez drew his with a long whistling sound, and Manvers, who could
dare to look at her, thought he had never seen maidenly dignity more
beautifully shown. She moved to her place with a gentle consciousness
of what was due to herself very touching to see.

The crowded court thrilled and murmured, but she did not raise her
eyes; once only did she show her feeling, and that was when she passed
near the barrier where the spectators could have touched her by leaning
over. More than one stretched his hand out, one at least his walking
cane. Then she took hold of her skirt and held it back, just as a girl
does when she passes wet paint. This little touch, which made the
young men jeer and whisper obscenity, brought the water to Manvers'
eyes. He heard Gil Perez draw again his whistling breath, and felt him
tremble. Directly Manuela was in her place, standing, facing the
assize, Gil Perez looked at her, and never took his eyes from her
again. She was dressed in black, and h