My uncle is so hopelessly in love with
you that his ordinary common sense has left him."

"It may be as you say, but much remains that is unaccountable to me."

"I see little that is not made clear by what I have said. You and I
know that when a man becomes as blindly infatuated as he, his conduct
violates reason and the simplest prudence and he does things that
would be absurd in a child. Frightened by the prospect of losing you,
he gave all his thoughts and energies to preventing it. This was the
only method that suggested itself, and we cannot deny, my dear friend,
that it has been quite successful up to this point."

"But of what possible avail can it be to him? Idiot that he is, he
must know that this situation can last but a short time. Jack will
find it out within twenty-four hours, and General Yozarro must know
what will happen _then_."

"Dearest Warrenia, you do not see as much in this as I. What stronger
proof can I give of my love to you than to say that we must separate
and you must leave this part of the world with the least possible
delay? Your own loveliness is your peril. It ought to be your greatest
protection, but it is not. I would that your yacht was in the river
this very hour and that we could make haste to it, for you are in
greater danger than you suspect."

CHAPTER XVII.

The cheek of the American blanched, and she looked earnestly at her
friend, as if she did not take in the full meaning of her words. She
spoke in a whisper:

"Tell me what you mean."

The other rose from her chair, walked across the room to the closed
door, and turned the big key in the massive lock. Then she lifted the
ponderous bar and dropped it into place.

"It may not be necessary," she said, as she came back, sat down and
took the hand which she had released; "for though some of the servants
may be in the next room, or in the hall outside, none can hear what we
say. It will do no harm, however, to be certain. If you could have
your wish you would be in Zalapata tonight?"

"Most assuredly I should."

"Because the Major is there, but if he chanced to be away, your
situation would be no better than at Atlamalco."

"I am certain it would be a thousand-fold better."

"I am afraid, dear friend from the North, that I see some things
clearer than you; General Bambos is just as much infatuated with your
loveliness as General Yozarro."

"But he has a wife and family!" was the horrified exclamation of Miss