spair, nothing of the sort.

In fact, so completely overcome was Lopez by this unexpected result of
his interview with Katie that he left abruptly.

He was full of wonder. "Is it possible," he thought, "that this is her
English stubbornness? Can she have so much of that infernal English
stolidity as to be able to conceal so perfectly her deepest feelings?
Impossible! Does she love Ashby? She cannot! Does she love anybody? No!
Can she love? I don't believe it! What a girl! what a girl! And she seems
so gentle, so timid, but in reality she's as bold as a lion, and as
fierce as a she-tiger. By heavens! she shall be mine, if she's the Evil
One himself.

"And that poor fool Ashby thinks she loves him! Bah! she cares no more
for him than she does for me. The idiot! This is a sweeter vengeance for
me than anything else. And, by heavens! he shall still be present at our
marriage. For married we shall be in spite of fate, even if I have to
gain her consent with the muzzle of my pistol against her brow."

CHAPTER XLV.

IN WHICH HARRY ASKS A FAVOR, AND LOPEZ BEGINS TO SEE A LITTLE LIGHT.

While Lopez was thus chafing and fuming he was accosted by Harry.

Harry's position was peculiar, and not particularly enviable. He had been
informed that he was a free man, and master of his own actions. Lopez had
nothing against him, and by this time had forgotten even his existence.
After his deliverance, Harry had gone mooning about, stared at by all in
the castle, until at length he had fallen asleep.

In the morning he made a great discovery. This was the fact that his
freedom to go was useless, and that he was still a prisoner here--a
prisoner, though a voluntary one--a prisoner bound to this place by bonds
stronger than iron manacles or walls of stone. These bonds were the
feelings which had started up within him before he was aware, and now
held him fast tied to Katie. He awoke to feel that his present freedom
was far less sweet than his late captivity--that delightful captivity
with its stolen interviews, and the sweet thoughts of her who was so
near.

And where was she now? He had seen nothing of her. Had she fled? But how,
and why, and where would she have fled from him? Had she been captured?
But why? Who would capture her? Yet where was she? These were the
questions that came thronging upon him to vex his soul and destroy his
peace; so that it was for the purpose of finding out something definite
about her that h