women
at that. No wonder she had danced in public. She had reason to!

Never had he dreamed that he would live to enjoy this hour. When he
first imparted his information to Blanch, she refused to believe it; but
the proofs were too convincing to leave so much as the shadow of a doubt
in her mind. How fortunate that he had discovered her secret at this
time; just before the _fandango_. What an opportunity to confront her
with the truth; force her to make a public confession of her guilt.
Nothing could be more propitious for the execution of his plans; the
annihilation of the woman who had wrecked his life. It was not enough
that she should be exposed. She must be humiliated publicly as he had
been.

He did not entirely reveal his plans to Blanch, knowing that the woman
in her and her consideration for the Captain would cause her to shrink
from inflicting so cruel a revenge even upon a rival. He was far too
clever for that. So, without going into details concerning his plans, he
led her to believe that, at a prearranged signal from her, he would
confront Chiquita personally and compel her to acknowledge the truth
before himself and the Captain. Her nature revolted at that which Don
Felipe told her, cried out for justice, for the exposure of the
impostor; nevertheless, she disliked a scene, and for the Captain's
sake, made Don Felipe promise to do nothing unless she gave the signal.

One week hence and their scores would be even. The thought thrilled him
as he paced the length of his room, his hands clasping and unclasping
nervously behind his back; his mind actively engaged in rehearsing the
events of the last few days which led to the discovery, and the details
of the plan he had formulated, the carrying out of which was to be
deferred until that eventful evening when the principal families of the
town and neighborhood, her friends and acquaintances, would be gathered
together to witness her shame--the same as they had witnessed his. Her
disgrace would be far worse than his had been. She would be an outcast;
for let a man transgress and the world may forgive him, but let a woman
fall and she is damned forever so far as the world is concerned. He
would make no mistake this time. He carefully weighed every detail of
his plan, considered every eventuality that might arise. Subtle and
resourceful though he knew her to be, there would be no loophole of
escape for her.

It was almost too good to be true. He was beside hims