"Or else," continued Lopez, "in the event of your refusal—"
"What? what?"
"Rivers is a prisoner yet. He has been reprieved—that is all. The court did not decide."
"A prisoner—yet!" repeated Katie.
"He cannot go," said Lopez, "till we are married."
"Oh heavens!"
"Till then he is in the greatest possible peril; till then he is only safe by the most violent exercise of arbitrary authority on my part. Some of my followers are intensely excited: all are mutinous: they clamor for his death. They look at me with sinister faces and low muttered execrations. With these fierce, implacable spirits how can he be safe? I am not safe myself. The moment I set him free I dare not remain behind. I cannot go—I will not go—without you. His life depends on you. My men cannot be long restrained. I myself have had to tell them that it is only for twenty-four hours."
"Oh heavens!" cried Katie, in even deeper anguish.
"Before that time is up he must go—yes, long before—so as to be well on his journey, out of reach of these fierce enemies. I must go soon after he does. I cannot go alone—I cannot give up everything. If I give up ambition for your sake, it is only fair that I should satisfy my love."
"Love!" cried Katie. "Oh! Love! How can you talk of love!"