"It is of very little consequence," she added; "restore me my daughter, Don Tadeo, and this new love of yours shall be sacred to me—if not—"
"You are mistaken, madam, I tell you."
"Beware, Don Tadeo!" she remarked, with a glance at the clock; "by this time the woman we were speaking of is in the hands of my agents."
"What do you mean?" he cried, in great agitation.
"Yes," she replied, in a husky tone, "I have had her carried off. In a few minutes she will be here. Beware! I repeat, Don Tadeo! if you do not tell me where my daughter is, and if you continue to refuse to restore her to me—"
"Well," he said, haughtily, looking her full in the face, and crossing his arms, "what then will you do?"
"I will kill this woman!" she replied, in a gloomy but firm tone.
Don Tadeo looked at her for a moment with an undefinable expression, and then burst into a dry, nervous laugh, which chilled the woman with fear.
"You will kill her!" he cried, "unhappy woman! Well!—kill that innocent creature!—Call in your executioners—I will be mute."
The Linda sprang up like a lioness, and rushed towards the door, which she opened violently.