ow me!"

Saying this, he walked silently towards the hacienda, followed by the
assassin.

The storm which threatened Tiburcio promised soon to break over his
head. Two dangerous enemies were approaching him; Cuchillo with wounded
self-esteem, and purposes of vengeance that caused, him to grind his
teeth as he thought of them; and Don Estevan, smarting at the discovery
of such an obstacle to his ambition.

Tiburcio in going forth from his chamber, and traversing the path that
conducted him to the appointed rendezvous, was under the belief he had
not been observed: neither was he; but unfortunately chance had now
betrayed him.

The night was not so dark as Don Estevan and Cuchillo would have wished;
nevertheless, by crouching low, and keeping well in to the wall that
enclosed the garden, they succeeded in reaching a little grove of orange
and citron trees, the foliage of which was thick enough to shelter them
from view. From this grove, thanks to the calmness of the night, they
could catch every word that was said--for under the shadow of the trees
they were able to approach very near to the speakers.

"Whatever you may hear," whispered Don Estevan in the ear of the other,
"remain motionless as I do."

"I will," simply answered Cuchillo.

The two now placed themselves in an attitude to see and hear. They were
separated from the speakers by a slight barrier of leaves and branches,
and by a distance not greater than an active man could pass over in two
bounds. Little did the victims of their espionage suspect their
proximity--little dreamt Tiburcio of the danger that was so near him.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

LOVE THROUGH THE WINDOW.

For a time the listeners heard nothing beyond those commonplace speeches
exchanged between lovers--when the young man, doubtful of his position,
makes himself heard in reproaches, or arguments, which to him appear
all-powerful, while the responses which he meets with show too plainly
that he is either not loved at all, or that the advantages are on the
side of the girl. But was this really the position of Tiburcio with
Rosarita? It remains to be known.

According to the custom of country houses throughout Mexico, the window
of Rosarita's chamber was unglazed. Strong iron bars, forming what is
called the _reja_, hindered an entrance from without; and behind this
reja, lit up by the lamp in the chamber, the young girl was standing in
an attitude of graceful ease. In the ca