e of you might go to escort
her. Brides sometimes consider it right to fain a slight reluctance--you
understand? On second thoughts, you need not trouble the Senor Adrian. I
have a new words of ante-nuptial advice to offer, so I will go to him."

A minute later father and son stood face to face. Adrian leaped up; he
shook his fist, he raved and stormed at the cold, impassive man before
him.

"You fool, you contemptible fool!" said Ramiro when he had done.
"Heavens! to think that such a creature should have sprung from me, a
human jackass only fit to bear the blows and burdens of others, to fill
the field with empty brayings, and wear himself out by kicking at the
air. Oh! don't twist up your face at me, for I am your master as well as
your father, however much you may hate me. You are mine, body and soul,
don't you understand; a bond-slave, nothing more. You lost the only
chance you ever had in the game when you got me down at Leyden. You
daren't draw a sword on me again for your soul's sake, dear Adrian, for
your soul's sake; and if you dared, I would run you through. Now, are
you coming?"

"No," answered Adrian.

"Think a minute. If you don't marry her I shall, and before she is half
an hour older; also--" and he leant forward and whispered into his son's
ear.

"Oh! you devil, you devil!" Adrian gasped; then he moved towards the
door.

"What? Changed your mind, have you, Mr. Weathercock? Well, it is the
prerogative of all feminine natures--but, your doublet is awry, and
allow me to suggest that you should brush your hair. There, that's
better; now, come on. No, you go first, if you please, I'd rather have
you in front of me."

When they reached the room below the bride was already there. Gripped
on either side by Black Meg and the other woman, white as death and
trembling, but still defiant, stood Elsa.

"Let's get through with this," growled the half-drunken, ruffian priest.
"I take the willingness of the parties for granted."

"I am not willing," cried Elsa. "I have been brought here by force. I
call everyone present to witness that whatever is done is against my
will. I appeal to God to help me."

The priest turned upon Ramiro.

"How am I to marry them in the face of this?" he asked. "If only she
were silent it might be done----"

"The difficulty has occurred to me," answered Ramiro. He made a sign,
whereon Simon seized Elsa's wrists, and Black Meg, slipping behind her,
deftly fastened a handkerchi