teblanco and his guest, Don Rodrigo. Gomez Arias,
however, could not believe the danger to be so imminent, making due
allowance for the valet's timorous disposition; but the good duenna, who
had been unpleasantly disturbed at her devotions, now came forward to
confirm the fearful intelligence.

Though these unpleasant interruptions are far from being of novel
occurrence in the annals of love, and though Gomez Arias was
familiarized with their danger, yet when he looked on the duenna's
countenance, that faithful thermometer of intrigue, he could not but
perceive the impending storm to be more than usually alarming. Deeper
wrinkles furrowed her sallow visage; her eye was haggard, and the rosary
shook in her withered hand.

"Holy Virgin! I am lost," exclaimed the affrighted dame. "Ah! Don Lope,
this comes of my tender-hearted, complying disposition; there's my
reputation sullied with a stain that not all the holy water in Spain
will be able to wash away!"

"But, surely," observed Gomez Arias, "the danger is not so imminent as
to preclude my escape."

"Escape!" quoth the duenna; "it is impossible; they are at this moment
on the stairs."

"Villain!" cried Don Lope, turning fiercely to Roque, "is this the way
you do your duty?"

Roque very prudently kept aloof from the contact of his master's hand;
and, as if anticipating an explosion, began to stammer forth his
excuses. Theodora's countenance was suddenly overspread with a deadly
paleness, and the timid girl wrung her hands in an attitude of despair.
Her critical situation, and the duenna's alarm, at first staggered Gomez
Arias, but with the start of resolution which immediate danger inspires,
he assumed a mastery over his emotion, and instantly bethought himself
of an expedient to ward off the threatened discovery.

"If Don Rodrigo arrives with Monteblanco," said he, "we are safe; we
shall have nothing to fear."

"Nothing to fear!" echoed Roque. "Methinks the danger is doubled when a
man has two enemies to encounter, instead of one."

"Silence, fool!" cried his master. "Martha, be calm; affect not to know
me; make free use of the organ with which nature has so liberally
endowed you, and do not spare your reproaches and abuse. Theodora, keep
up your spirits. Roque, be silent, you rascal."

The door opens--Monteblanco and Don Rodrigo enter, but are fixed to the
ground in mute amazement at the group that presents itself to their
view. The duenna had summoned the c