Yes, senor, I think I can."

By this time Monica, still in her black mantilla, had flitted past us
between her mother and the Duke, but we were following. Dim as it was in
the court, the moon looked out from behind the Giralda tower, and it was
not dark enough for my project. Inside the cathedral, however (save where
blazed the Holy Week monument, an illuminated temple of white and gold),
was a mysterious darkness. Not the hundreds of great wax candles sufficed
to light the aisles in that vast forest of stone. Stumbling, groping to
pass through a hanging veil of shadow, thousands of men and women drifted
aimlessly to and fro, themselves black as the shadows they fought, save
here and there some soldier whose uniform waked a brief flame of red and
gold, or a hooded brother who glowed purple under a lighted pillar.

Purposely we pushed against the people before us, so that in a space black
as a lake of ink the trio we followed was separated. The rush of people
from behind was so sudden--so well managed by us,--that it took the Duke
unawares. The three were caught in the eddy, divided, and before they
could come together again I had my arm through Monica's, and was dragging
her away, the messenger clinging to me closely.

"Don't be frightened," I said. "It's I--Ramon. I have to speak with you."

She looked up at me, her pale face dim as a spirit's in the dark.

"Shame!" she stammered brokenly. "To force me like this--you, who have--"

"Done nothing except love you too well; and you must give me the chance to
win you back. You owe it to me," I said almost fiercely; and she was
silenced.

"Monica! where are you?" I heard Lady Vale-Avon's voice call, and could
have thanked her for giving me the direction to avoid.

"Take us to that empty chapel quickly," I said to the man. Then he, who
would have known how to find his way in that stone forest blindfold,
steered us through the sea of people, and into a haven beyond the waves.
Not a chapel was lighted; but as my eyes grew used to the gloom I could
see faces on the other side of the tall, shut gates of openwork iron which
we passed.

"I have the key of this one. I will promise the people a better place if
they'll come out," whispered the messenger, stopping before a pair of
these closed doors, and unlocking it with a great key.

I heard him speciously informing a group of shadows that they would be too
far from the music to hear it well. He had a friend who would open a