"Pah!" Douglas flung the little gnome away and took Alice's arm within his own. "Let him keep out of my way then. If he crosses my path again I shall rid the world of his accursed presence."
"You hear! You hear!" shouted Don Pablo again. "He threatens to kill me. If anything happens to me, remember all of you what has been said."
"Aye, we'll remember. But why didn't you lat her as is to be his wife alone?"
"She was to be my wife and he robbed me of her," snarled Narvaez, arranging his disordered attire.
"Come away! come away," murmured Alice, with white lips and dragging Douglas aside, for the young man's fury was overpowering him again.
"Yes, I'll go. I am not master of myself while that little reptile is about—oh, you toad—you——" Words failed Montrose, and he walked hurriedly away with Alice, after shaking his fist at Narvaez.
"You threatened to kill me: I'll remember that," shouted the Spaniard after him. "You threatened in the presence of witnesses."
Montrose, walking swiftly home with Alice, paid no attention to the cry, but turned to the girl with a white face of suppressed anger and dilated nostrils. "Why didn't you let me twist his neck?" he growled.
"He's an old man," apologised Alice, shivering.
"An old beast. Is age to protect him from being punished? I shall tell your father, and Narvaez will never enter again into Tremore. He won't come near me again in a hurry, I'll warrant, after that shaking."