e more of his wild and insane excitement over this marriage
ceremony.

Brooke heard it, and stared in bewilderment first at one and then at the
other.

Talbot stood as before. She moved not, she spoke not, she was stolid and
stiff, like a statue of ice; but there was in her face a new horror--it
was the face of one who sees a ghost.

To both of these it was a terrible moment. For Talbot saw Harry, and Harry
saw Talbot, and each recognized the other fully, though neither ventured
to address the other. This, then, was the meeting of those two who had
once loved and exchanged vows; who had suffered and rejoiced together; who
had parted in sorrow, and looked forward to a reunion with joy; who but a
short time since had desired nothing so much as the sight of each other;
this was their meeting and thus it took place, at the very climax of that
new and more passionate love which had been conceived by each for another!

Had Harry only recognized her a few minutes before, the sight would have
effectually chilled his hot blood and saved him from his mad assault on
Lopez. He was calm enough now, however, and this was quite sufficient for
the latter.

"Senor," said he, "you deserve to be shot on the spot without mercy, but
out of regard for this lady and at her solicitation I spare you. And now,
senor priest, let the ceremony begin, for this lady seems feeble."

Lopez waited, expecting Brooke to translate this to Talbot.

Brooke hesitated.

Lopez, in surprise, repeated his words. "Why do you not interpret?" he
added.

It was the crisis of Talbot's fate. How could Brooke decide? Why should he
interpret at all? Should he do this? No; better draw upon himself the
wrath of Lopez. And yet what could he accomplish by a refusal to
interpret? These other prisoners could act. They understood Spanish as
well as English. Such were the questions in Brooke's mind, and he could
not decide.

Suddenly the decision on this matter was taken away altogether, and
adopted by Talbot herself. She would not let the vengeful wrath of Lopez
fall on Brooke or on any other than herself. She understood his feelings
fully, and therefore, to put an end to all suspense, she took the matter
in her own hands.

She therefore came close up to Lopez, and fixed her large, dark, solemn
eyes sternly yet mournfully upon his. Her face bore witness to a
resolution that was immutable. Lopez could read its expression and see all
that was in her mind.

She poi