"Yes—yes. Would that it could crown something else than my dishonor."
"Say not so."
She kissed him again, fain to dispel the shadow that darkened his face.
"I had been faithful," he went on, as if in justification, "had I not seen thee on the brink of that cliff, and then thou wert in my arms—I was lost——"
"And I was found. I leaped to death. I shut my eyes as I drove the horse toward the cliff, and I awakened to find myself in your arms—in heaven! Let nothing take me hence."
"It can not be," he said, "I must go to the Viceroy when he returns from the Orinoco war, and tell him that I have betrayed him."
"I will tell him," she answered, "or wilt thou tell him what I tell thee?" she went on.
"Surely."
"Then say to him that I sought death rather than be given to Don Felipe or to any one else. Tell him you saved me on the very brink of the cliff, and that never soldier made a better fight for field or flag than thou didst make for thy honor and duty, but that I broke thee down. I had the power, and I used it. The story is as old as Eden—the woman tempted—"
"I should have been stronger—I should not have weakened. But I shall fight no more—it is all over."