elancholy eyes. Never did the sun shine on a
more lovely lady; but her sadness always made me feel sad."

Lopez interrupted her with an impatient gesture.

"Never mind her. Now describe the other one." said he.

"The other?" said Rita; "she looked like an English duchess. She was
light--oh, a wonderful light blonde, with golden hair, and eyes as
blue as heaven, with cheeks pink-and-white, and with dimples dancing
on them, and with the smile of an angel that always lurked in her
lips and laughed out of her eyes. And she was as beautiful as a
dream, and no one ever saw her sad. Heaven does not hold in all its
mansions a more beautiful, beautiful angel than this English
duchess."

Rita spoke enthusiastically; the more so as she saw Lopez look at her
with a deep attention, and a gaze that devoured all her words.

"That is she!" cried Lopez, in intense excitement. "That is the one
of whom I wished to hear. So you have seen her? Ah, well, good woman,
this information is your best passport--more, it is worth much to me.
I'll reward you."

"Oh, senor," said Rita, anxious to strike while the iron was hot, and
secure her freedom at once, "if this information is welcome and
valuable, the only reward I want is to let us go. Let us go, noble
senor, for we have urgent business, and our detention here may be our
ruin."

"Ruin?" cried Lopez; "what nonsense! You are free now, and safe from
the Carlists. As to letting you go, that is out of the question. You
are the very woman I want to see. You know all about this castle. You
must be my guide back to it. I have been sent to recapture those
unfortunate prisoners. I have been unable thus far to get on their
track. As to that castle, there is a certain one up yonder which I
had an idea of reconnoitring; but if all I hear is true, I shall have
to get artillery. Now you have escaped, and you may be able to give
me information of a very valuable kind. I should like to know how you
contrived to escape from a place like that, and I urge you to be
frank with me. Remember this, that the quickest way to liberty will
be to help me to get those prisoners. You must remain with me until
then. The sooner I capture them, the sooner you shall be allowed to
depart."

All this was a sore blow to Rita's hopes; but her quick mind soon
took in all the facts of her position, and she concluded that it
would be best to be frank, as the captain had urged. She also saw
that it would be for her interest