wishes to see you again.
Nor do I. You are nothing to her. She is nothing to you. You have
made your bed, and must lie on it. You must blame yourself, and not
me."

With these words Lopez retired, leaving the unhappy Russell in a
condition that may be better imagined than described.

CHAPTER XLII.

IN WHICH DOLORES REAPPEARS IN THE ACT OF MAKING A RECONNOITRE.

Harry had already been set free, but Ashby was held as a prisoner. At
first he remained in the room where Lopez had found him, along with
the Carlist guard, but after a few hours he was removed to another
chamber. This was chiefly to prevent any possible attempt at escape
which Ashby might make with the assistance of the other prisoners,
who, knowing the weak points of the castle, might be able, with a
bold leader, to strike an effective blow for liberty.

The moonbeams now were streaming in upon the stone floor where the
six Carlist prisoners were lying. They were sound asleep, and their
deep breathing was the only sound that might be heard. Two of them
were in the bed, the other four were on the floor. But these men were
used to roughing it, and on the flinty pavement they slept as soundly
as on a bed of down.

Suddenly, in the neighborhood of the chimney, there was a slight
noise.

No one in the room heard it, for they were all sleeping too soundly.

The noise ceased for a time; then it was renewed. It was a rustling,
sliding sound, as of some living thing moving there.

After this the noise ceased.

There was another long pause.

Then came a whisper--

"_Assebi_!"

No one heard. The sleepers were all far away in the land of dreams.

The whisper was repeated:

"_Assebi_!"

There was no answer. Nor did any of the sleepers awake. Out of such a
sound sleep nothing could awaken them that was of the nature of a
mere whisper.

Of course this moving body was our friend Dolores. There is no need
to make a mystery of it. She alone now had access to this room; she
alone would come here. She alone, having come here, would utter that
one word,

"_Assebi_!"

It was Dolores.

She bad come back to this room to seek after Ashby, to see him; if
not, then to hear of him, and, if possible, to help him.

After assisting "His Majesty" to effect his royal escape, Dolores had
thought for a few moments of surrendering herself. After further
thought, however, she had concluded not to. She saw that nothing
could be gained, and much might be ris