t of Don Gregorio's
house. Two of the riders are Carmen Montijo and Inez Alvarez; the other
two--

At this point conjecture terminates. De Lara, certain, and no longer
able to control himself, cries out:

"_Carajo_! it's they returning from their excursion--paired off, as I
supposed they would be! So, Calderon, you have your chance sooner than
you expected. And without seeking it--a lucky omen! There's your
rival, riding by the side of your sweetheart, and pouring soft speech
into her ear! Now's your time to set things straight--insult him to
your heart's content. I feel like giving a fresh affront to mine."

He draws rein, bringing his horse to a halt. The _ganadero_ does the
same. Scanning the equestrians ahead, they see them two and two, each
pair some ten or twelve paces apart from the other. Crozier and Carmen
are in the advance, Cadwallader and Inez behind.

De Lara looks not at the latter couple; his eyes are all upon the
former, staring with fixed intensity, full of jealous fire, in a glare
such as only a tiger might give, on seeing Carmen Montijo turn towards
her escorting cavalier, and bend over--he to her--till their heads are
close together, and their lips seemingly in contact!

"_Carrai_! they're kissing!" he exclaims, in a tone of bitter
exasperation.

He can bear it no longer. With a shout, half angry, half anguished, he
digs the spur deep, and dashes forward.

The clattering of hoofs behind first warns Cadwallader, who is nearest
to the noise. For, up to this time, the lovers, absorbed in sweet
converse, dreamed not of danger.

The young Welshman, glancing back, sees what it is, at the same time
hears De Lara's wild cry. Intuitively he understands that some outrage
is intended--a repetition of the morning's work, with doubtless
something more.

Quickly he draws his dirk: not now to be used in sport, for the mere
pricking of a horse, but in serious earnest, to be buried in the body of
a man--if need be. This resolve can be read in his attitude, in his
eyes, in his features. These no longer bent in the laugh of a reckless
boy, but the rigid, resolute determination of a man. Badly as he sits
his horse, it will not do now to dash against him. The collision may
cost life--in all likelihood, that of the aggressor.

De Lara sweeps past the midshipman without saying a word; without even
taking notice of him. His affair is with one further on.

But now Calderon is coming up, clearl