; and at the
same time he would be able to take a sweet and most effective revenge on
the hated Ashby. As for this new lover, Rivers, who had so unexpectedly
started up, the decision was more difficult. He felt no hate toward him
as he did toward Ashby. He had received no insults at his hands. There
was in Harry's manner none of that outrageous superciliousness which had
made Ashby so detestable. The face of Rivers was of itself one which
conciliated all, and his character was visible in his frank, free, and
easy manners. With such a man it was almost impossible to quarrel; still,
the jealousy of Lopez had been roused at the discovery of Katie's love
for Rivers, and for this he felt a resentment. He determined, therefore,
to include that young man in his plans, and thought that the simplest and
most effective mode of dealing with him would be to invite him also to
the wedding. Thus both the lovers should see with their own eyes the end
of this affair. Ashby should see it, Rivers also should see it. The
prospect was a delightful one, and did much toward restoring Lopez to his
equanimity.

"Aha!" he said to himself, as he reached this conclusion--"aha, my
tender, cooing doves! how will you like that?"

[Illustration: "He Flung Himself On His Face On The Stony Floor, And Lay
There Long."]

Another thought, which gave him almost equal delight, was that of the
revenge which he would be able to take on Russell. Russell had stirred up
his deepest hate. He had insulted him at Madrid, and had put a stop to
his attentions to Katie. He had publicly expelled him from the
railway-carriage. Had he been Katie's father, Lopez would have felt
resentful enough, and would have found it hard to forgive; but as he was
merely a guardian, and as Katie had no affection for him, he was under no
constraint whatever, and could gratify his revenge without any
hinderance. It was to him a most delightful chance which had thrown
Russell in his way under such peculiar and ridiculous relations to Rita;
and to take advantage of this was a happy thought, which filled him with
such exultation that for a time he almost lost sight of the darker and
more disheartening side of this affair.

That darker side was the aversion which Katie had evinced toward himself.
She had shown it. It was not merely her love for Rivers; it was something
like repugnance to himself, which had been evident at their first
meeting. The juncture which he considered most favo