d the
next moment stood, upon the centre and highest point of the bridge in
front of the little gate. Here she again stopped, drew from under her
cloak a white cambric handkerchief, and, raising herself to her full
height, held it spread out between her hands.

The air was filled with fire-flies, whose light sparkled thickly against
the dark background of the copsewood; but these did not prevent her from
distinguishing a brighter flash, like the snapping of a lucifer-match,
that appeared among them. Her signal was answered!

She lowered the handkerchief, and, taking out a small key, applied it to
the lock of the gate. This was undone in a second, and, having thrown
open the wicket, she retired within the shadow of the grove, and stood
waiting.

Even in that dark shadow her eyes sparkled with the light of love, as
she saw a form--the form of a man on foot, parting from the copse, and
coming in the direction of the bridge. It was to her the dearest on
earth; and she awaited the approach with a flushed cheek and a heart
full of joyful emotion.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

It was no fancy of Catalina's that she heard the shutting of a door as
she returned up the avenue. A door in reality had been closed at that
moment,--the door that led to the sleeping apartments of the
maidservants. Had her steps been quicker, she might have seen some one
rush across the patio and enter this door. But she arrived too late for
this. The door was closed, and all was silent again. It might have
been fancy, thought she.

It was no fancy. From the hour when the family had retired to rest, the
door of Catalina's chamber had been watched. An eye had been bent all
the time upon that ray of light escaping through the curtained glass,--
the eye of the girl Vicenza.

During the early part of the evening the maid had asked leave to go out
for a while. It had been granted. She had been gone for nearly an
hour. Conducted by the soldier Jose, she had had an interview with
Roblado. At that interview all had been arranged between them.

She was to watch her mistress from the house, and follow her to the
place of assignation. When that should be determined she was to return
with all haste to Roblado--who appointed a place of meeting her--and
then guide him and his troop to the lovers. This, thought Roblado,
would be the surest plan to proceed upon. He had taken his measures
accordingly.

The door of the maid's sleeping-room was j