“Quite,” I answered, and my teeth again closed with a snap.
“Then,” said she, with a little gulp of terror, turning towards the door, “I—I must hurry back. I promised father that I would leave you at once if you refused, and I too must keep my word. Let me, however, whisper one word to you.”
And still burning with self-righteousness I bent down.
“Mizpah,” said she in a low voice, almost like a prayer: “The Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. Only He can protect us both. Please heaven He will.” And kissing me hurriedly on the cheek she darted away.
Next instant she had sprung into a passing hansom and had vanished from my sight, leaving me for a second quite dumbfounded.
Chapter Four.
The House at Hampstead.
Thus began my powerful fight for Don José Casteno’s rights!