"Yes?" she breathed.
"Life 'as been unkind to you. Too long 'ave you been marry wiz ze tired business man. You shall come wiz me to ze land of purple mountains, where I will love you myself personal."
This animal! Lucia turned from him in horror. "But I don't want to love!"
"It is not what you want," a new tone came into Lopez's voice. "It is what I want. I am ze law, 'ere!"
"Please!" Lucia pleaded.
Pell stepped forward. "Look here!" he cried. "There must be some way out of this!"
"Zere is," said Lopez politely. He pointed to the door. "Zat way."
Angela clung to her father's neck. "Dad!" she cried, seeing that he was about to be forced to go—perhaps forever. Tears rolled down her pretty cheeks.
Pell saw the seriousness of things now, and turned to Hardy in a strange camaraderie. "I guess we're up against it," he said.