"Have you ordered Senor Carbonnell's arrest?"
"This is no concern of yours, Dolores."
"Why have you two quarrelled?" she cried passionately, and turned to me as if demanding an explanation. But I, of course, could give her none, and said so.
"Sebastian, Senor Carbonnell shall not be arrested. I will not have it."
"Senor Carbonnell will scarcely wish to owe his safety to you," he answered, with an ugly sneer. "Nor is this a matter in which I can allow you to interfere. He has come here purely out of solicitude for the safety of his friend—Sarita Castelar. You owe him thanks for what he did for you, and, remembering that, I have tried to induce him to leave the country. He will not, and as he remains he must take the consequences. This is a State matter, and, I repeat, you must not interfere. It can do you no good."
That there was a meaning under his words which she understood was clear by her change of colour; but when he finished she turned upon him as if to retort angrily. She checked herself, however, and instead asked me, in a voice that only with a great effort she was able to keep firm and cool: "Will you not give your word to leave Spain, Senor Carbonnell?"
"Certainly I cannot and will not, senorita," I replied, marvelling much at the turn things were taking.
"You hear?" exclaimed Quesada, lifting his eyebrows. "You know why he stays?"
This seemed to strike right at her heart. She sank into a chair and bent her head on her hand.
"This step is necessary, Dolores. Be warned; and leave us," he continued, in the same meaning tone.