I could not answer; I clasped my hands and looked at her in silence.
"I thought as much," she said, smiling, and laid a gentle finger on my cheek.
"Oh, señora, you will aid me to save him! You will plead with the Governor—you will set him free?"
She drew back coldly. "You ask too much. I have told you that there are two Governors in San Augustin—I divide the honours with Melinza; but I plead with him for naught."
I turned away to hide the quivering of my lip.
"Listen to me," she added more kindly. "Between Pedro Melinza and Orosia de Colis there is at present an armed peace; since each holds a hostage. Not that I care anything for the Englishman, but my husband is undesirous of defying the commands of the Council. Although he bears no love to your nation, he maintains that it is not the policy of our government, at present, to ignore openly the friendly relations that are supposed to exist between the Crowns of England and of Spain. It seems that the duplicate of the Council's orders has been sent to the Governor of your new settlement on this coast; and if he sends hither to demand the delivery of the prisoners, Señor de Colis would rather choose to yield up all, than to risk a reprimand from the authorities at home.
"Dost thou understand all this? Well, let us now see the reverse of the picture.
"Melinza sets his own desires in the scale, and they outweigh all politic scruples. He has sworn that so long as I stand between him and you, so long will Señor Rivers remain in the castle dungeon,—unless Death steps kindly in to set your lover free."
A little sob broke in my throat at these cruel words. Doña Orosia laid her hand on mine.
"Poor little one!" she said.