nted to Katie, then to herself, and then to him. Then looking
fixedly at him, she shook her head violently and with emphasis, and then
hurled the breviary upon the floor. The act and the expression were more
eloquent than words. Lopez understood all perfectly. His eyes flashed with
just indignation, and a savage smile came over his face.

"Oho, senor priest," said he; "so you think that because I have once or
twice restrained my anger, that I can be set at defiance with impunity!
I'm tired of being magnanimous; so let me tell you that however merciful I
have been before, I will show none now. You must go on. I will allow of no
hesitation. Tell him that," he added, to Brooke.

"He says," said Brooke, "that you must obey."

Talbot scarcely heard this.

She never moved her eyes from Lopez; she simply shook her head, with her
immutable resolve as visible as ever. Lopez could see that the priest, for
some motive or other, was bent on self-sacrifice.

He took out his watch. "I'll allow five minutes," said he, "for decision.
If at the end of that time you refuse, I will blow out your brains with my
own hand. Tell him that."

"Senor captain," said Brooke, impetuously, "let me say one word."

"Translate for me, I say!"

"One word first."

"Not one--obey me!" cried Lopez, in fury.

"Senor captain," said Brooke, not heeding him, "this is a priest. It is a
matter of conscience."

"Silence!" roared Lopez. "Tell him what I said. His time will soon be up!"

Brooke turned to Talbot.

"He'll only give you five minutes, Talbot," said he. "I'll try to dissuade
him."

"No use, Brooke," said Talbot, mournfully. "I came prepared for this."

Brooke turned again to Lopez.

"The priest says that his vows forbid him to blaspheme the holy sacrament
of marriage in this way. He says he will die rather than risk his soul by
an act of sacrilege."

"A curse on his soul!" cried Lopez. "What do I care!"

"Look out for your own soul!" cried Brooke.

"Aha! are you too a priest? Beware, sir! your life is already in peril."

At this moment Harry cried out in a loud voice,

"Stop, Captain Lopez--stop, for God's sake! This is a mistake--a terrible
mistake."

Lopez turned round in a fury.

"Gag that devil!" he roared.

In a moment the soldiers had seized Harry and bound a bandage over his
mouth, by which they effectually stopped any further remarks.

The last chance yet remained which Brooke might seize for Talbot--it was
to div