"Ah, thou canst not," she whispered, nestling closer to him. "And tell my father that should harm come to thee, if, in their anger, he or de Tobar lay hand upon thee, it will not advantage their plans, for I swear, if there be no other way, I will starve myself to death to follow thee!"
"I can not shelter myself behind a woman."
"Then I will tell them both myself," she cried. "You shall know, they shall know, how a Spanish woman can love."
"And thou shalt know, too," answered Alvarado firmly, "that though I break my heart, I, an unknown, can expatiate his guilt with all the pride of most ancient lineage and birth highest of them all."
It was a brave speech, but he did not release his hold upon Mercedes and in spite of his words when, confident that whatever he might say, however he might struggle, he was hers at last, she smiled up at him again, he kissed her.
"When go you to my father, Señor Alvarado?" she asked.
"When he returns from the Orinoco."
"And that will not be until——"
"Perhaps a month."
"Wilt love me until then?"