"So I understood. He was giving fair warning."
"But Manuel won't be warned."
"When he hears of it he'll be more anxious than ever to fight."
Valencia nodded. "A spur to a willing horse."
"If he knew he would be killed it would make no difference to him. He is quite fearless."
"Quite."
"But he is a very good shot, too. You do not need to be alarmed for him."
"Oh, no! Not at all," the girl answered scornfully. "He is only my distant cousin, anyhow—and my lover."
"It is hard, Val. Perhaps I might pick a quarrel with this American and——"
She caught him up sharply, but he forgave it when he saw her white misery.