He had a secret reason for rejoicing in the disgrace of the young Mexican, and he had a still stronger motive in seeking the destruction of Paul, since he had begun to suspect the attachment between Lisimon and Camillia.
He hurried to his daughter's apartments, in order to inform her of Paul's escape from prison.
"Now, Camillia, what think you of this haughty youth who so proudly declared his innocence?" said Don Juan, after relating the account he had just heard of Lisimon's escape.
"I think as I have ever thought," answered Camillia.
"That he is innocent?"
"Yes!" replied the Spanish girl.
"Strange, then, that he should have fled," said Don Juan; "the innocent man generally awaits to meet the issue of his trial; it is only the guilty wretch who flies to hide himself from the avenging power of the law he has outraged."
Pauline Corsi had been present during this brief dialogue, but she had remained silent, with her fingers busy with the rainbow silks of her embroidery, and her eyes bent over her work. She raised them, however, as the Spaniard uttered those words and looked him full in the face.
"The guilty do not always fly, Don Juan Moraquitos," she said quietly.
The Spaniard started and looked at Mademoiselle Corsi with a rapid, but furtive glance.