ed her. She pressed her cold hands to her
burning, throbbing temples and prayed that, whatever her end might be,
it would come swiftly.

Again she raised her head and glanced through the open window. To her
surprise she saw the tall form of Dick Yankton leaning against one of
the pillars of the arcade that ran round the _patio_. He was smoking
quietly and observing the Captain, who still strode back and forth
apparently unaware of his presence. Suddenly the Captain stopped short
as if he had come to a decision. As he did so, he turned half round and
saw Dick, whom he regarded for some moments in silence. Then, going over
to where he stood, she heard him exclaim: "It's not true, Dick, I don't
believe it. I'm going to her now and tell her so!" At the same instant
she also saw Don Felipe glide noiselessly and stealthily from one of the
doors opening on to the _patio_ and pause in the deep shadow of the
arcade next to the wall, close to where they stood. Instantly she was on
her feet and leaning forward, breathless and eager to catch all that was
said.

"Neither do I believe it," answered Dick. "But I wouldn't have told you
so. I wanted you to make up your mind first, and if you hadn't said so
just now, I wouldn't show you this, either," he continued, drawing from
his inner coat pocket a large envelope from which he took a letter and
handed it to the Captain.

She saw the sheet of paper tremble in the Captain's hands as he read its
contents. Again Dick handed him another sheet somewhat larger and
darker than the first. He seized it eagerly, glancing hurriedly over its
contents, his hands trembling more violently than before.

"Marvelous!" he exclaimed excitedly, looking at Dick. "And yet," he
added, "it's not so strange after all; it's so natural!"

Blanch uttered a suppressed cry. She felt that her last chance of
winning back the Captain was gone forever. It was a last stab at her
heart. At this juncture Jose appeared from out the shadows of the garden
beyond the _patio_ and hurriedly approached them. She heard him say
something in Spanish which she did not understand. Then, all became
blurred before her eyes. She felt herself begin to sway and totter--she
fainted.

* * * * *

Following Jose, the Captain and Dick came upon Starlight, quietly
cropping the grass in the garden, just outside the corral. On hearing
their approach, the Chestnut raised his head, and, seeing his master,
gave