"Dominique!" he exclaimed. "What do you here and who——"
"Mother of God!" shrieked the duenna. "There lies the Donna Mercedes!"
"She is hurt?" asked Felipe, for the moment his surprise at the presence of Alvarado lost in his anxiety for his betrothal.
"I know not," answered the distracted old woman.
"She lives," said Alvarado, rising to his feet and facing his friend. "She hath but fainted."
"Water!" said Señora Agapida.
Both men started instantly to hand her the carafe that stood on a table near by. Don Felipe was nearer and got it first.
Señora Agapida loosened the dress of the young woman and sprinkled her face and hands with the water, laying her head back upon the floor as she did so and in a moment the girl opened her eyes. In the darkness of the room, for no lamp had as yet been lighted, she had not recognized in her bewilderment who was bending over her, for Alvarado had forced himself to draw back, yielding his place to de Tobar as if by right.
"Alvarado!" she murmured.
"She lives," said Don Felipe, with relief and jealousy mingled in his voice, and then he turned and faced the other.