s nothing of the reasons which lead to the undertaking
of wedlock," Francisco answered mildly. "They are various, and many of
them would not bear investigation. But you were married without any open
protest on your part, on Portuguese territory, according to Portuguese
custom, and by a duly qualified priest. The fact that you are of the
Protestant religion, and were united by the Catholic ritual, does
not matter at all. For the purposes of the ceremony you accepted that
ritual, as is customary when a Protestant marries a Catholic. It is
disagreeable for me to have to tell you this, but the truth remains: I
believe that you are man and wife before Heaven and the world."[*]

[*] The Editor does not hold himself responsible for Father
Francisco's views on ecclesiastical marriage law.

Here Juanna jumped to her feet, and even in that light Leonard could see
that her breast was heaving and her eyes shone with anger.

"It is intolerable that I should be forced to listen to such
falsehoods," she said, "and if you ever repeat them in my hearing,
Father Francisco, I will not speak to you again. I utterly repudiate
this marriage. Before the ceremony began, Mr. Outram whispered to me to
go through with the 'farce,' and it was a farce. Had I thought otherwise
I should have taken the poison. If there is any foundation for what the
Father says, I have been deceived and entrapped."

"Pardon, senora," replied the priest; "but you should not speak so
angrily. The Senor Outram and I only did what we were forced to do."

"Supposing that Father Francisco is right, which I do not believe,"
said Leonard, with sarcasm, "do you think, Miss Rodd, that such a sudden
undertaking would be more to my liking than to yours? Believe me, had
I wished to 'deceive and entrap' you, I could not have done so without
involving myself, since, if the marriage is binding, it is binding on
both parties, and even such a humble individual as I am does not take
a wife on the faith of a five minutes' acquaintance. To be frank, I
undertook your rescue for purposes far other than those of matrimony."

"Might I ask what they were?" replied Juanna, in a tone of equal
acerbity.

"Certainly, Miss Rodd. But first I must explain that I am no
knight-errant. I am an almost penniless adventurer, and for urgent
reasons of my own I seek to win fortune. Therefore, when the woman
yonder," and he pointed to Soa, who was sitting watching them just
out of range of th