Sarita started and looked at me hurriedly, but I would not see the glance.
"They were nothing to me."
"You have told us how these Carlists were outmanoeuvred and duped by him; do you think there were no dupes among those nearer to him?" And I spoke with an emphasis that impressed him.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know that he himself also thought of marrying a Carlist, one high in their councils, and that he made the price of his collusion in this abduction plot a pledge from her to marry him?"
I had not miscalculated the effect of the stroke. Poltroon as the fellow was in the abject regard for his life, he was a true Spaniard in his love and his hate; and the jealousy in his nature was a devil that could be roused easily. It put new strength into him now, and he sprang to his feet again and glared across the table at me with eyes of fire.
"Do you mean I was his dupe in this? By the living Cross if I thought that——"
"Ask the Senorita Castelar the name. She can tell you."
"Is this true, Sarita? Can you tell me?"
There was a pause of tense silence, and then she answered with slow deliberation: