"Don't be angry, Rosa," I said. "I hate to give you pain,
but--but--can't you understand?"

"No," replied she calmly; "I understand nothing."

"I wish to warn you," I continued desperately--"to put you on your
guard. There is a rumour--I heard it in camp, but I do not vouch for
its truth--"

"Come, make an end of this," she said haughtily, "or allow me to
proceed to the house. What is this rumour which seems to have tied
your tongue so?"

"I will tell you. It is said that the leader of the conspiracy is Don
Felipe Montilla! Let me--"

"Thank you, Juan Crawford," said she, making a superb gesture of
disdain. "Now go! If our friendship has given you the right to insult
me thus, you have that excuse no longer. Go, I say, before I call the
servants to whip you from the place."

I tried in vain to offer some explanation.

"Go, senor, go!" she repeated, and at last I turned sorrowfully away.

I had done my best and failed. I had lost my friend, and had effected
no good, for I saw by her face that she would think it treason to
mention the subject to her father. And as I rode from the gate, I
wondered whether, after all, we had been mistaken in our judgment.

CHAPTER XX.

"SAVE HIM, JUAN, SAVE HIM!"

"Aren't you coming, Juan?"

Two days had passed since my interview with Rosa Montilla, and I was
sitting in my room at the barracks, feeling at enmity with all the
world.

"It's a pity we've nothing better to do than to make fools of
ourselves," said I savagely, when young Alzura burst in on me excitedly.

He was dressed to represent some hideous monster that never was known
on sea or land, and in his hand he carried a grotesque mask.

"Hullo!" he exclaimed; "some one been rubbing you down the wrong way?
Caramba, you are in a towering rage! Pray what has offended your Royal
Highness?"

"Why, all this tomfoolery! Fancy a masked ball with Canterac in the
mountains ready to swoop down on us at any moment!"

"The more reason why we should enjoy ourselves while we can. Besides,
you are as bad as the rest: you promised to go!"

"I have forgotten it, then."

"Well, you did; so make haste--the carriage is waiting."

"I have no dress ready," said I coldly.

"That doesn't matter in the least. Go in your uniform; you look very
well in it."

"Thanks, I prefer to stay here."

"You forget the ball is given in our honour! Colonel Miller won't be
too pleased at finding you absent. 'Twill be a