ter than
either mother or sister could, and I knew that."

"Oh! now I understand you."

"Yes," continued Roblado, grinding his teeth against each other, and
speaking in a bitter tone; "that precious `margarita,' that is yet to be
my wife,--ha! ha! He was not likely to be off without having a talk
with her. They have had it. God knows whether they agreed to make it
their last, but I, with the help of Don Ambrosio, have arranged that for
them. _Carrai_! she'll make no more midnight sorties, I fancy. No--
he's not gone. I cannot think it,--for two reasons. First, on her
account. Have you ever loved, Comandante? I mean truly loved! Ha! ha!
ha!"

"Ha! ha! ha! well I think I was caught once."

"Then you will know that when a man really loves--for I myself count
that foolish act among my experiences,--when a man really loves, there's
no rope strong enough to pull him away from the spot where the object of
his love resides. No, I believe this fellow, low as he is, not only
loves but worships this future wife of mine,--ha! ha!--and I believe
also that no danger, not even the prospect of the garrote, will frighten
him from the settlement so long as he has the hope of another
clandestine _tete-a-tete_ with her; and, knowing that she is ready to
meet him half-way in such a matter, he will not have lost hope yet.

"But my second reason for believing he is still lurking about is that
which you yourself have brought forward. He is not likely to leave them
behind after what has happened. We have not blinded him;
though--_Gracias a Dios_, or the devil--we have dusted the eyes of
everybody besides! He knows all, as the girl Vicenza can well testify.
Now, I have no belief that, knowing all this, he would leave them for
any lengthened period. What I do believe is that the fellow is as
cunning as a _coyote_, sees our trap, knows the bait, and won't be
caught if he can help it. He is not far off, and, through these
accursed peons of his, communicates with the women regularly and
continually."

"What can be done?"

"I have been thinking."

"If we stop the peons from going back and forth they would be sure to
know the trap that was set around them."

"Exactly so, Comandante. That would never do."

"Have you considered any other plan?"

"Partly I have."

"Let us hear it!"

"It is this. Some of those peons regularly visit the fellow in his
lair. I feel certain of it. Of course they have been followed, but
o