Josè hesitated. “I think, Rosendo––” he began. But could even a human mind touch such depths of depravity? And yet––“I think,” he continued slowly, “that Diego, having seen her, and now speculating on her future beauty of face and form––I think he means to place her in a convent, with the view of holding her as a ready substitute for the woman who now lives with him––”
“Dios! And that is my own daughter!” cried Rosendo, springing up.
“Yes––true, Rosendo. And, if I mistake not, Diego also would like to repay the score he has against you, for driving him from Simití and holding the threat of death over him these many years. He can most readily do this by getting Carmen away from you––as he did the other daughter, is it not so?”
Rosendo came and stood before the priest. His face was 223 strained with fearful anxiety. “Padre,” he said in a low voice, “I shall end this matter at once. I go to Banco to-morrow to kill Diego.”
“You shall do nothing of the kind!” cried Josè, seizing his hand. “Why––Rosendo, it would mean your own death, or lifelong imprisonment!”
“And what of that, Padre?” said the old man with awful calmness. “I have nothing that is not hers, even to my life. Gladly would I give it for her. Let me die, or spend my remaining days in the prison, if that will save her. Such a price for her safety would be low.”
While he was speaking, Fernando, the town constable, entered. He saluted the men gravely, and drew from his pocket a document to which was attached the Alcalde’s official seal.
“Señores,” he said with much dignity, as if the majesty of his little office weighed upon him, “I am commanded by Señor, the Alcalde, to exercise the authority reposing in him and place Don Rosendo Ariza under arrest. You will at once accompany me to the cárcel,” he added, going up to the astonished Rosendo and laying a hand upon his shoulder.
“Arrest! Me! Hombre! what have I done?” cried the old man, stepping back.
“Bien, amigo, I do not find it my duty to tell you. The Señor Alcalde hands me the document and commands me to execute it. As for the cause––Bien, you must ask him.”