With a tender smile the young lover unclasped her slender form and let her glide swiftly away.
But not long did he wait; soon the curtains were again lifted, and Lianor, radiant as a bright star, in trailing robes of white and gold, diamonds flashing on her bare arms and round her delicate throat, came towards him.
"My queen, my own dear love! what should I do if they took you from me?" passionately pressing her hands to his lips.
"They will never do that, Luiz. I am determined not to allow Tonza to win my father over to his way of thinking."
Manuel Tonza watched the happy lovers with bitterest hate gnawing at his heart, deadly schemes against his fortunate rival flitting through his subtle brain.
Late that night, when the weary guests were parting, Tonza stole noiselessly from the palace; and when he returned, in less than half an hour, his face wore an expression of fiendish triumph and delight.
He was even polite to Luiz, much to that young man's surprise, though he doubted the sincerity of Manuel's words.
Happy and content, after a tender adieu to Lianor, the captain left the viceroy's palace, to seek his own apartments.
Not far had he gone, however, when a shadow stole silently behind him, and the next moment he felt himself suddenly grasped by powerful hands and flung to the ground.
Almost stunned by the fall, he was yet able to see the dark face bending over him.