from its lair when the prey is at hand. Away now went all thoughts of
flight with Ashby. Vengeance alone remained for her to think
of--vengeance full and complete, which should involve both Ashby and
the English maiden. What this vengeance was to be, however, she could
not think of as yet; but she knew that in order to make it as full
and complete as possible, it would be necessary to think it all over
from every point of view.

In this amiable frame of mind Dolores was thus waiting and
listening--stung to madness by every new whisper, and nourishing her
own rage all the more every moment--until at length she became
gradually aware of a sound proceeding from another quarter, and not
coming from the two whisperers in the corner at all. There was some
one in the fireplace--some newcomer who had approached by that way.
What did this mean? Who could this be? Did others know of the secret
passage-way? If so, then her surroundings were very different from
what she had supposed, and her whole course of action would have to
be changed.

Dolores watched, and at length saw the figure of the new-comer quite
distinct in the moonlight, yet not so distinct as to enable her to
ascertain who it was. The idea was so firmly fixed in her mind that
the first comer was Ashby, that she could only suppose this new
visitor to be one of the Carlists, perhaps "His Majesty" himself.

Meanwhile this new-comer had been stealthily moving along, and
Dolores watched and listened. Now was the time which she might seize,
if she chose, as the time for vengeance. If this were really one of
the Carlists, above all, if this were "His Majesty," she might have
sweet revenge by denouncing the false traitor Ashby on the spot,
before he could escape. It would be sweet to see the dismay of the
traitor when thus discovered under her own eyes. Still, even in that
hour of her madness and her fury, she felt that before taking the
irrevocable step and denouncing Ashby it would be necessary to be
perfectly sure. So Dolores waited.

Meanwhile Ashby in his progress had passed beyond the place where
Dolores was, and had traversed more than half the apartment. At this
moment he was at fault, and felt anxious to know where to direct his
way. He thought the best way would be to try first if Dolores was
awake. And so, in a thin, low, but very distinct whisper, he said:

"Do-lo-res!"

Dolores heard it. Well she knew that in the castle there was no one
who called her b