"'Aye,' he said, and bowed to me. 'Since Doña Orosia desired for some reason to detain him here, I thought it best to be rid of him at once; but the girl remains.'
"'The girl remains in my guardianship,' said I.
"'Until to-morrow,' Melinza answered. 'To-morrow the Virgen de la Mar returns to Habana, and with her go the English girl and your humble servant.'
"'The Governor,' I cried, 'will not permit it!'
"'Will he not? Ask him,' said Melinza, 'ask his Excellency the Governor of San Augustin!' Then he laughed at me—Dios! he laughed at me!"
She bit her red lip at the remembrance, and clenched her white hands.
"And did you ask the Governor, señora?"
She nodded fiercely. "The old dotard! He did but shrug his shoulders and offer me a diamond necklace in exchange for my pretty puppet of a plaything. It is plain Melinza has some hold upon him, what it is I cannot guess; but it is stronger than my wishes. He would sooner brave my anger than oppose his nephew's schemes."
I watched the dark shadow settling on her brow, and I thought all hope was over.
"Doña Orosia," I said at last, "will you lend me your dagger?"