his woman there was
a new danger, more formidable than any which had yet menaced him.
This look made him feel like an arrested debtor in the grasp of the
bailiff, or like an insane man under the watchful eye of his keeper.
In Rita he now recognized his bailiff and his keeper. She was worse.
She had designs on him! And for what? For marrying him. Marriage was,
of course, impossible, for he had a wife already; but did Rita know
this? To tell the truth, he had been fooling her; and he now saw for
the first time that he would have to answer for this. When she should
discover it, what would she do? He had heard the words of the poet:

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,"

and he recalled these words only to shudder. He shuddered still more
as he thought that Rita belonged to the Spanish race--a race that
never forgives--a race implacable, swift to avenge--a race that
recognizes only one atonement for wrongs, and that is to wipe them
out in blood.

Such were the thoughts of our honest friend, and they were painful in
the extreme. They awakened new fears. That one look of Rita's made
him dread her more than Lopez, more than "His Majesty." He began to
think now, with something like pleasure, of going back to the castle.
Lopez would protect him; and if Lopez should fail, he would steal
back by the secret path and surrender himself to "His Majesty." He
would find his bonds, and purchase his freedom with these. In
addition to this, he determined to wait for a favorable opportunity,
when Rita might be away, to confide to these new and sympathizing
friends the whole story of his woes.

Further conversation between Russell and these new friends was now
prevented by the entrance of Lopez himself. He advanced to Brooke,
and addressed him with much civility, not without friendliness.

"Senor," said he, "I have been thinking over your case, and I have
concluded to hand you over to my military superiors. They may take
the responsibility of deciding about your guilt or innocence. But for
the present, as I am responsible for you, I must detain you as my
prisoner. If you were only connected with some recognized profession,
I should be happy to accept your parole, and let you follow at your
leisure; but as you are considered here a possible spy, I cannot
think of that. You must, therefore, come with us under guard.
Moreover, as to your friend, this young priest, he must consider
himself as bound, for a short time, with us. I ex