Part 37 (2/2)
For the soldiers had come as they went, not a , but certainly no prisoners brought back!
”They've got safe off,” triumphantly exclaied past, ”as I told you they would I knew there was no fear after they had been warned”
That they had been warned both were by this aware, theirmeanwhile returned and reported to that effect He hadsome bushes, he had been unobserved by theain ande--a _billetita_ for each of the tho had commissioned him
The notes were alike, in that both had been hastily scribbled, and in brief but warm expression of thanks for the service done to the writers
Beyond this, however, they were quite different It was the first epistle Florence Kearney had ever indited to Luisa Valverde, and ran in fervid strain He felt he could so address her With love long in doubt that it was even reciprocated, but sure of its being so now, he spoke frankly as passionately Whatever his future, she had his heart, and wholly If he lived, he would seek her again at the peril of a thousand lives; if it should be his fate to die, her naen Santissi the sords; then, refolding the sheet on which they ritten, secreted it away in the bosoht that had ever lain there
The communication received by the Condesa was less effusive, and more to the point of what, under present circumstances, concerned the writer, as, indeed, all of them Don Ruperto wrote with the confidence of a lover who had never known doubt A man of rare qualities, he was true to friendshi+p as to his country's cause, and would not be false to love
And he had no fear of her His _liens_ with Ysabel Alht of her affections ever changing He knew that she was his--heart, soul, everything For had she not given hih woe? Nor had he need to assure her that her love was reciprocated, or his fealty still unfaltering; for their faith, as their reliance, was mutual His letter, therefore, was less that of a lover to his mistress than one between man and urative phrase, even some of it in cypher!
No surprise to her all that; she understood the reason Nor was there any enignification; without difficulty she interpreted the, with the atte a success, and, if so, ould co before this--where he, the writer, and his Free Lances would be on the following night, so that if need arose she could coer to hi herself and her friend too
Neither were they now; instead, filled with such apprehension In viehat had occurred on the preceding evening, and throughout the night, how could they be other? The dwarf ue overheard by Jose In short, he see--the _cochero's_ complicity as their own The free surrender of their watches and jewellery for the support of the escaped prisoners were of itself enough to incriation, orous than before, and likely to have a different ending
With this in conte to matins Nor did they essay to take sleep or rest Instead, wandered about the house froht
They had the place all to themselves; no one to take counsel with, none to co been called off to his duties in the city But they were not destined to spend the whole of that day without seeing a visitor As the clocks of San Augustin were striking 8 puise of an officer of Hussars, Don Carlos Santander Nor was he alone, but with an escort acco They were seated in the verandah of the inner court, but saw hiuan_, the door of which was open, saw hi co He had been accustomed to visit them there, and they to receive his visits, however reluctantly, reasons ofthem But never had he presented hi unannounced, another riding into the enclosure with soldiers behind him; but the rudeness was complete when he came on into the _patio_ still in the saddle, his men too, and pulled up directly in front of the for word of invitation The stiff, formal bow, the expression upon his swarthy features, severe, but with ill-concealed exultation in it, proclaimed his visit of no compli offended, even angry, at the same time alarmed And yet little surprised, for it was only confir them--its very fulfilment But that they believed it this they would have shown their resent him there As it was, they knew that would be idle, and so stayed to hear what he had to say It was--
”_Senoritas_, I see you're wondering at e you should Nor could any one reeable errand I've corieves me sorely, I assure you”
”What is it, Colonel Santander?” de-froid_ partially restored
”I hate to declare it, Condesa,” he rejoined, ”still orous necessities of a soldier's duty, I must”
”Well, sir; must what?”
”Make you a prisoner; and, I am sorry to add, also the Dona Luisa”
”Oh, that's it!” exclaimed the Countess, with a scornful inclination of the head ”Well, sir, I don't wonder at your disliking the duty, as you say you do It seems more that of a policeman than a soldier”
The retort struck ho him in the eyes of the woman he loved, Luisa Valverde But he no she loved not him, and had made up hisby the innuendo, and dropping his clumsy pretence at politeness, he spitefully rejoined--
”Thank you, Condesa Al to co to do policeman's duty And now let it be done Please to consider yourself under arrest; and you also, Senorita Valverde”