"Then whatever happens, do not lose them before next Sunday," warned Pedro, smiling.
As the young couple arose to go, Carmen gave a start.
"Did you see a figure sneak out from behind that tree and disappear?" she asked Pedro.
"No, I did not," he answered. "And you are full of mystery today, little Carmen!" He was laughing at her again. "Come. Let us go home now before you see a ghost."
But Carmen had been right. There had indeed been a figure behind that tree—someone with very sharp ears, who had listened to all they had said.
He was no mystery—this figure—but a very real person. He was another torero, jealous of Pedro, who had won the love of Carmen—jealous, too, because Pedro had won popularity as a fighter, while he had not.
Carmen thought she recognized this man. Yet she was not altogether sure, and on the way home, Pedro talked her out of her fears.
Happily they started toward Madrid, unaware of the terrible plan which this jealous torero was beginning to lay.
| MADRID |
On they drove through a flat land of many vineyards. They passed small white houses with tiled hats on, and a village cut out of the landscape by a lazy hand and colored carelessly. Soon they entered Madrid.