toward them, with furtive glances, and with such very
extraordinary gestures that Brooke and Talbot regarded him in great
surprise.

"The Hungarian countess," said Talbot, "seems more eccentric than
ever."

Russell looked all around in a stealthy way. Rita's eyes were fixed
on him, but he did not care for that. He smiled at her, however, and
nodded blithely, so as to disarm any possible suspicions, and then
addressed himself to Talbot.

"Oh, sir!" said he, "I'm not a Hungarian countess at all. I'm a poor
unfortunate English-woman, that's escaping from the banditti, with
the help of this good creature. And I know I can trust you."

At this the amazement of Brooke and Talbot was inexpressible. Brooke,
however, held his tongue, seeing that as Talbot had been addressed,
it would be better for her to answer. So Talbot, after a few
expressions of sympathy, asked Russell to explain farther.

Russell then informed them that her name was Mrs. Russell; that she
had been captured, along with her daughter, by the Carlists; that she
had escaped, hoping to get help to rescue her daughter. All this
Russell stated, not without much circumlocution and contradiction.

Brooke now interposed.

"But don't you know," said he, "that these people are
Republicans--that they're going to capture the castle, or try to? If
they succeed, they will free your daughter. So you see you have
fallen among the right sort of people, and you may be quite at your
ease. It's all the best for you. If I were you, I would tell the
captain all about it. Get yonder good woman, your companion, to
explain."

At this Russell gave a look of despair.

"The very thing," said he, "that I dare not do."

"Why not?"

Russell then, still keeping up the part of Mrs. Russell, and
mentioning Katie as her daughter, explained that Lopez was his bitter
enemy, and told them about his love for Katie and his ejection from
the railway-carriage.

"Well," said Brooke, "you needn't be afraid of him. This matter will
settle itself. He'll free your daughter from captivity, and she'll
marry him, of course. After that you can take the sweetest revenge on
him by tormenting him for the rest of his days as his mother-in-law."

Russell sighed a heavy sigh and turned away. As he did so, he caught
the eyes of Rita, which were fastened upon him with a fixed, earnest,
eager stare, and there was that in her look which served to drive
away every other thought except the one that in t