ivined it. She had already made up her mind as to
what that service would be that Lopez expected of her, and what her own
action should be. Brooke also, in spite of his plausible arguments, was
afraid that she was only too near the truth, and such terrors gathered
around the prospect that he could not think of it. But now all suspense
was at an end. The truth was about to be made known, and, whatever it
was, they would have to face it.

"Senor," said Lopez, addressing himself to Brooke, yet courteously
including Talbot in his glance, "I have now come to tell you why I have
required thus far the company of your friend the priest, and you may
explain to him what I have to say. It is for a very simple and pleasing
ceremony--namely, a marriage."

"A marriage!" repeated Brooke, in a low voice.

That word, sometimes so full of joyous meaning and so surrounded with
associations of mirth and festivity, now rang in Brooke's ears with a
sound as harsh and terrible as that of a death-knell. It was the word
which he dreaded more than all others to hear from the lips of Lopez. His
heart sank within him, and he knew not what to think, or where to turn
for hope. That Talbot would refuse to perform this ceremony he felt
convinced, but what would be the consequences of such a refusal under
such circumstances?

"The priest," continued Lopez, who had not noticed any difference in
Brooke's manner, and was not at all aware of the intense agitation which
now pervaded all his frame--"the priest will be ready to perform the
ceremony at an early hour to-morrow morning."

"To-morrow morning!" repeated Brooke, mechanically.

Worse and worse! This man was hurrying matters so that he did not leave
any time for thought, much less for action. To-morrow morning, at an
early hour! Oh, terrible haste! Oh, fearful flight of time! "Was there,
then, so short a time until this new ordeal, with its new dangers? Brooke
shuddered.

A sudden thought now came to him, at which he grasped eagerly. It was
utterly useless, and he knew it, but it was all that he had to offer
against this man's resolution.

"Can the priest officiate without the government license?"

"Government license!" repeated Lopez. "Of course. The Church does not ask
permission of the State to perform the solemn sacraments. What has the
State to do with the acts of a priest of the Church?"

"Oh, I don't know," said Brooke, dejectedly; "it's different in other
countries."

"Spain," s