"'Do I dream?' murmured Leonora in affright.
"'You do not,' screamed our hero, tucking his petticoats under his arms, and tearing off the veil that concealed his face. 'Behold! false one! behold! Don Bobadil Banco!'
"'Dear Bobadil, you would not kill me?'
"'No, Leonora, you shall live to repent of this. Take that wretched baby to its father, or I will strangle it before your eyes.'
"'By the God we all worship, I swear I never saw the child before!' exclaimed Leonora, looking solemnly upward.
"Her air of truthfulness carried conviction with it, and Bobadil stood like one thunderstruck; but soon a new expression fell upon his countenance, and he turned gravely to the duenna.
"'Perhaps you own the—the baby!'
"'You're a nasty dirty beast!' retorted the chaste creature, rushing from the room like a ricochetting shot.
"'I can answer for the innocence of Laura,' said Leonora, calmly.
"Rebuked by her dignified manner, our hero mentally