"Certainly, my dear boy; but don't stay long," said the old gentleman, as he smilingly retired.
Ignez gazed anxiously, almost with a haggard aspect, at her cousin, and then her eyes wandered furtively towards the door of the fatal closet.
"Ignez," said Perez, trembling in spite of himself.
"Cousin!"
"There is a man in that closet."
Her dismay was now overwhelming, for it was combined with a shame and terror against which even her pure innocence failed to support her.
"Oh, Perez, my cousin, dare you accuse—dare you suspect——"
"I suspect and accuse you of nothing. Oh Ignez! God forbid, though I have suffered much of late. But a villain whom I do suspect has concealed himself for some nefarious purpose in your dressing-closet. On looking in I saw his feet, and he must be got rid of quietly, for not a breath must stain the reputation of you, my dearest Ignez. Leave me to act," continued Perez, as he opened the closet door and cocked a pistol. "Come forth," said he; "you are discovered, Don Pedro. Come forth instantly, and in silence too."
There was no reply, but the body of Pedro was seen extended at length on the floor! He was in a state of exhaustion—overcome by his recent potations at the taberno, combined with the noxious fumes of the charcoal from the brazero.
Perez kicked him with his foot, and smiled grimly.