"But not till midnight!" cried Felipe.
"What? I do not understand."
"She will not take the veil till midnight."
"No, not till then."
"Rafael," cried Felipe, "ask me no questions now. Only believe me. I always have and always will love Buelna. I swear it. I can stop this yet; only once let me reach her in time. Trust me. Ah, for this once trust me, you who have known me since I was a lad."
He held out his hand. The other for a moment hesitated, then impulsively clasped it in his own.
"Bueno, I trust you then. Yet I warn you not to fool me twice."
"Good," returned Felipe. "And now adios. Unless I bring her back with me you'll never see me again."
"But, Felipe, lad, where away now?"
"To Santa Teresa."