ing. Something else had
caused it. What could it be?

After a moment or two both stepped out, and examined the bushes whence
the sound was supposed to have proceeded; but nothing was to be seen.
They looked around and up towards the garden--there was no appearance of
anything that could have caused the noise! It was now much darker than
when they had entered the arbour. The moon had gone down, and the
silvery light had turned to grey; but it was still clear enough to have
distinguished any large object at several yards distance. Catalina
could not be mistaken. She had heard a rustling sound to a certainty.
Could it have been the dog? Carlos stepped forward on the bridge. It
was not--the animal still lay where he had been placed: it could not
have been he! What then? Some lizard? perhaps a dangerous serpent?

At all events they would not again enter the arbour but remained
standing outside. Still Catalina was not without apprehensions, for she
now remembered the loss of the note, and, later still, the shutting of
the door, both of which she hastily communicated to her companion.

Hitherto Carlos had paid but little attention to what he believed to be
some natural occurrence--the fluttering of a bird which had been
disturbed by them, or the gliding of a snake or lizard. But the
information now given made a different impression upon him. Used to
Indian wiles, he was a ready reasoner, and he perceived at once that
there might be something sinister in the sound which had been heard. He
resolved, therefore, to examine the ground more carefully.

Once more he proceeded to the back of the arbour, and, dropping to his
knees, scanned the grass and bushes. In a moment he raised his head
with an exclamation of surprise.

"As I live, Catalina, you were right! Some one has been here, beyond a
doubt! Some one has lain on this very spot! Where can they have gone
to? By Heaven, it was a woman! Here is the trail of her dress!"

"Vicenza!" exclaimed the lady. "It can be no other--my maid, Vicenza!
_Dios de mi alma_! she has heard every word!"

"No doubt it was Vicenza. She has watched and followed you from the
house. What could have tempted her to such an act?"

"_Ay de mi_! Heaven only knows: her conduct has been very strange of
late. It is quite annoying! Dear Carlos!" she continued, changing her
tone of regret to one of anxiety, "you must stay no longer. Who knows
what she may do? Perhaps summon my f