at we were to meet again on the fifteenth of May. Shortly
after I left she received a letter calling her to Madrid on urgent
family business, and she did not expect me back until the fifteenth of
May, so she remained in Madrid until the first. But, as you know, I, in
my impatience could not wait, and returned fifteen days before I had
agreed, and not finding her at the hotel I jumped to the conclusion
that she had deceived me, and I did not wait. I have gone through two
years of torment and suffering, all due to my own stupidity."

"But she could have written you a letter."

"She said that she had forgotten the address."

"Ah, my poor friend," I exclaimed, "I see that you are striving to
convince yourself. Well, so much the better. Now, when does the
marriage take place? I suppose that after so long and dark a night the
sun of matrimony will rise radiant."

"Don't laugh," exclaimed Zarco; "you shall be my best man."

"With much pleasure."

* * * * *

Man proposes, but God disposes. We were still seated in the library,
chatting together, when there came a knock at the door. It was about
two o'clock in the morning. The judge and I were both startled, but we
could not have told why. The servant opened the door, and a moment
later a man dashed into the library so breathless from hard running
that he could scarcely speak.

"Good news, judge, grand news!" he said when he recovered breath. "We
have won!"

The man was the prosecuting attorney.

"Explain yourself, my dear friend," said the judge, motioning him to a
chair. "What remarkable occurrence could have brought you hither in
such haste and at this hour of the morning?"

"We have arrested Gabriela Zahara."

"Arrested her?" exclaimed the judge joyfully.

"Yes, sir, we have her. One of our detectives has been following her
for a month. He has caught her, and she is now locked up in a cell of
the prison."

"Then let us go there at once!" exclaimed the judge. "We will
interrogate her to-night. Do me the favor to notify my secretary. Owing
to the gravity of the case, you yourself must be present. Also notify
the guard who has charge of the head of Senor Romeral. It has been my
opinion from the beginning that this criminal woman would not dare deny
the horrible murder when she was confronted with the evidence of her
crime. So far as you are concerned," said the judge, turning to me, "I
will appoint you assistant secretary, so that