t still," he said. "We
find 'er--I know where to look for it."

If he did he kept his knowledge to himself, though he spoke freely
enough of Manuela on the way to Madrid.

"This Manuela," he explained, "is a Valenciana--where you find fair
women with black men. Valencianos like Moors--love too much white
women. I think Manuela is not Gitanilla; she is what you call a
Alfanalf. Then she is like the Gitanas, as proud as a fire, but all
the same a Christian--make free with herself. A Gitana never dare love
Christian man--imposs' she do that. Sometimes all the same she do it.
I think Manuela made like that."

Committed to the statement, he presently saw a cheerful solution of it.
"Soon see!" he added, and considered other problems. "That dead man
follow Manuela to kill 'er," he decided. "When 'e find 'er with you,
master, 'e say, 'Now I know why you run, _hija de perra_. Now I kill
two and get a 'orse.' You see?"

"Yes," said Manvers, "I see that. And you think that he told her what
he meant to do?"

"Of course 'e tell," said Gil Perez with scorn. "Make it too bad for
'er. Make 'er feel sick."

"Brute!" cried Manvers; but Gil went blandly on.

"'E 'ate 'er so much that 'e feel 'ungry and thirsty. 'E eat before 'e
kill. Must do it--too 'ungry. Then she go near 'im, twisting 'erself
about--showing 'erself to please him. 'You kiss me, my 'eart,' she
say; 'I love you all the same. Kiss me--then you kill.' 'E look at
'er--she very fine girl--give pleasure to see. 'E think, 'I love 'er
first--strangle after'--and go on looking. She 'old 'im fast and drag
down 'is 'ead--all the time she know where 'e keep _navaja_. She cling
and kiss--then nip out _navaja_, and _click_! 'E dead man."
Enthusiasm burned in his black eyes, he stood cheering in his stirrups.
"Senor Don Dios! that very fine! I give twenty dollars to see 'er make
'im love."

Manvers for his part, grew the colder as his man waxed warm. He was
clear, however, that he must find the girl and protect her from any
trouble that might ensue. She had put herself within the law to save
him from the knife; she must certainly be defended from the perils of
the law.

From what he could learn of Spanish justice that meant money and
influence. These she should have; but there should be no more
pastorals. Her kisses had been sweet, the aftertaste was sour in the
mouth. Gil Perez with his eloquence and dramatic fire had cured him of
hankering aft