When the summons
actually came, I was not in the least surprised.

Alzura, who brought it me, had no idea he was assisting at a tragedy,
but, with a merry laugh, exclaimed, "Crawford, there is a lady outside
waiting to see you; she will not leave her carriage."

"Who is it?" I asked.

"I don't know; I haven't seen her. A servant gave me the message, and
I set off to find you."

"Thanks," said I quietly, and crossing the brilliantly-lit _salon_,
took my cap and went into the vast hall.

Who had come for me--my mother? That was my first thought, but a
moment's reflection showed that it was unlikely. Had there been
anything wrong at home, she would have sent Jose on a swift horse. The
answer to my question came as I stood on the flight of steps leading to
the hall. The crowd of people had dispersed, and only a solitary
carriage with its attendants stood at the door. Recognizing the
Montilla livery in an instant, I ran down the steps with a beating
heart.

The carriage door was open, and the light from the hall fell full on
the white face of Rosa.

"What has happened?" I cried. "Why do you look so frightened? Tell
me, quick!"

Her only answer was to bid me step inside. The footman sprang to his
place, the coachman gathered up the reins, the carriage turned with a
swing, and almost before I realized it we were off at a gallop. The
girl's face was hidden now in darkness, but I had seen it for a moment,
and could not forget it. She was white and scared; her cheeks were
tear-stained, and her eyes full of apprehension and grief.

Some terrible disaster had happened, but I could not learn what it was.
To all my questions she replied, "Home! home!" and ordered the coachman
to drive faster. Then she burst into a fit of crying, uttering
incoherent words, of which I could make nothing.

"Is it your father, Rosa?" I asked. "Has anything happened to him?"
At which she cried still more, upbraiding me for I knew not what.

The gates of the hacienda were wide open. We passed through at a
gallop, and the trembling, foam-covered horses drew up at the front
door. As soon as the carriage came to a standstill, I jumped out and
assisted Rosa to alight. All the servants seemed to have gathered in
the hall. Their faces were white, their eyes wild with dread; some of
them still shivered. Evidently a great calamity had occurred. What
was it?

Looking around, I noted the absence of Don Felipe. That gave me a clue