she was uneasy at its loss!
The wording not only compromised herself, but placed the life of her
lover in extreme peril. This it was that was casting the dark shadows
over her countenance--this it was that was causing her to traverse the
azotea and the garden in such anxious search.

"I must ask Vicenza," she continued. "I like not to do it, for I have
lost confidence in her of late. Something has changed this girl. She
used to be frank and honest, but now she has grown false and
hypocritical. Twice have I detected her in the act of deceiving me.
What does it mean?"

She paused a moment as if in thought. "I must ask her notwithstanding.
She may have found the paper, and, not deeming it of any use may have
thrown it in the fire. Fortunately she does not read, but she has to do
with others who can. Ha! I forgot her soldier sweetheart! If she
should have found it, and shown it to him! _Dios de mi alma_!"

This supposition seemed a painful one, for it caused the lady's heart to
beat louder, and her breathing became short and quick.

"That would be terrible!" she continued,--"that would be the very worst
thing that could happen. I do not like that soldier--he appears mean
and cunning and I have heard is a bad fellow, though favoured by the
Comandante. God forfend he should have gotten this paper! I shall lose
no more time. I shall call Vicenza, and question her."

She stepped forward to the parapet that overlooked the patio.

"Vicenza!--Vicenza!"

"_Aqui, Senorita_," answered a voice from the interior of the house.

"_Ven aca_!--_Ven aca_!" (Come hither.)

"_Si, Senorita_."

"_Anda! Anda_!" (Quickly.)

A girl, in short bright-coloured nagua, and white chemisette without
sleeves, came out into the patio, and climbed up the escalera that led
to the roof.

She was a _mestiza_, or half-blood, of Indian and Spanish mixture, as
her brownish-white skin testified. She was not ill-looking; but there
was an expression upon her countenance that precluded the idea of either
virtue, honesty, or amiability. It was a mixed expression of malice and
cunning. Her manner, too, was bold and offensive, like that of one who
had been guilty of some known crime, and had become reckless. It was
only of late she had assumed that tone, and her mistress had observed it
among other changes.

"_Que quiere V., Senorita_?" (What want you, my lady?)

"Vicenza, I have lost a small piece of paper. It was folded in an