Part 55 (1/2)

There is no reply to this taunting speech.

”Well, if you won't answer, I shall take it for granted you _are_ annoyed; besides looking a little alarmed too. You've no need to be that.”

”No, indeed,” endorses Calderon. ”We mean you no harm--none whatever.”

”On the contrary,” goes on De Lara, ”only good. We've nothing but favours to offer you.”

”Don Francisco de Lara!” exclaims Carmen, at length breaking silence, and speaking in a tone of piteous expostulation; ”and you, Don Faustino Calderon, why have you committed this crime? What injury have we ever done you?”

”Come! not so fast, fair Carmen! Crime's a harsh word, and we've not committed any as yet--nothing to speak of.”

”No crime! _Santissima_! My father--my poor father!”

”Don't be uneasy about him. He's safe enough.”

”Safe! Dead! Drowned! _Dios de mi alma_!”

”No, no. That's all nonsense,” protests the fiend, adding falsehood to his sin of deeper dye. ”Don Gregorio is not where you say. Instead of being at the sea's bottom, he is sailing upon its surface; and is likely to be, for Heaven knows how long. But let's drop that subject of the past, which seems unpleasant to you, and talk of the present--of ourselves. You ask what injury you've ever done us? Faustino Calderon may answer for himself to the fair Inez. To you, Dona Carmen, I shall make reply--But we may as well confer privately.”

At this he lays hold of her wrist, and leads her aside; Calderon conducting Inez in the opposite direction.

When the whole length of the cavern is between the two pairs, De Lara resumes speech:

”Yes, Dona Carmen; you _have_ done me an injury--a double wrong I may call it.”

”How, sir?” she asks, withdrawing her hand from his, with a disdainful gesture. ”How?” he retorts. ”Why, in making me love you--by leading me to believe my love returned.”

”You speak falsely; I never did so.”

”You did, Dona Carmen; you did. It is you who speak false, denying it.

That is the first wrong I have to reproach you with. The second is in casting me off, as soon as you supposed you'd done with me. Not so, as you see now. We're together again--never more to part till I've had satisfaction for all. I once hinted--I now tell you plainly, you've made a mistake in trifling with Francisco de Lara.”

”I never trifled with you, senor. _Dios mio_! What means this? Man-- if you be a man--have mercy! Oh! what would you--what would you?”

”Nothing to call for such distracted behaviour on your part. On the contrary, I've brought you here--for I'll not deny that it's I who have done it--to grant you favours, instead of asking them. Ay, or even satisfying resentments. What I intend towards you, I hope you will appreciate. To shorten explanations--for which we've neither opportunity nor time--I want you for my wife--_want you, and will have you_.”

”_Your_ wife!”

”Yes; my wife. You needn't look surprised, nor counterfeit feeling it.

And equally idle for you to make opposition. I've determined upon it.

So, you must many me.”

”Marry the murderer of my father! Sooner than do that, you shall also be mine. Wretch! I am in your power. You can kill me now.”

”I know all that, without your telling me. But I don't intend killing you. On the contrary, I shall take care to keep you alive, until I've tried what sort of a wife you'll make. Should you prove a good one, and fairly affectionate, we two may lead a happy life together, notwithstanding the little unpleasantness that's been between us. If not, and our wedded bondage prove uncongenial, why, then, I may release you in the way you wish, or any other that seems suitable. After the honeymoon, you shall have your choice. Now Dona Carmen! those are my conditions. I hope you find them fair enough!”

She makes no reply. The proud girl is dumb, partly with indignation, partly from the knowledge that all speech would be idle. But while angry to the utmost, she is also afraid--trembling at the alternative presented--death or dishonour; the last if she marry the murderer of her father; the first if she refuse him!

The ruffian repeats his proposal, in the same cynical strain, concluding it with a threat.