"Vassalla himself--is it true?" asked the young man breathlessly.
Miss Cotoner looked at him in a queer manner for a moment, then turned away her head.
"My parents arranged a match between us," she answered, nervously.
"And you?"
"I'm not in favour of it--I don't think there is any chance of my ever marrying the Marchese."
Ronald sprang forward with a cry of delight.
"Oh, Miss Cotoner--Carmela--I----"
"Would like to see the fortifications," she answered, quickly nipping the declaration, she knew was coming, in the bud; "I wouldn't; let us go down to the Almeda."
She turned away, and Ronald followed mortified and humbled at his failure, but half way down the hill began to pick up his spirits.
"I can't expect her to fall like ripe fruit into my mouth," he thought, hopefully; "and it's impossible she can love me in so short a time."