‘Oh, no, no! I am afraid of him,’ replied his wife. ‘He was papa’s overseer once, and he—he—presumed to fall in love with me; and because—because I married you instead, he has sworn to kill me; and he will, Sir Russell, I am sure he will, if they let him go free!’
‘He shall not go free!’ exclaimed her husband indignantly. ‘Such outrages from the half-caste population against European settlers are not to be tolerated. I am glad you have told me this, Quita; it will go greatly against him, if the court should be disposed to show him any favour.’
‘Oh, do send him away—get rid of him at all risks. He frightens me. I shall die of fear,’ she whispered, clinging to Sir Russell’s arm.
‘He shall never frighten you again, my darling. I will take care of that,’ replied the Governor decidedly, as he pressed her to him. But as he was embracing her, Jessica entered the bedroom, with an official paper.
‘Orderly from Fort bring for Governor,’ she ejaculated.
Sir Russell glanced over its contents.
‘Good heavens!’ he cried, ‘he has escaped us!’
‘Who—who?’ demanded Maraquita.
‘The very man you were speaking of—Henri de Courcelles. He has broken, by some miraculous means, out of his prison cell, and is missing. I must order out the mounted police at once to follow him. Don’t be afraid, Maraquita. It is impossible that he can escape the vigilance of the law, in such a little place as San Diego.’
‘He will—he will!’ exclaimed the unhappy girl, as her husband rushed out of the room. ‘He will live, as he said, to murder me.’ And with that she fell back unconscious on her pillows.