"But don"t you know," said he, "that these people are Republicans--that they"re going to capture the castle, or try to? If they succeed, they will free your daughter. So you see you have fallen among the right sort of people, and you may be quite at your ease. It"s all the best for you. If I were you, I would tell the captain all about it. Get yonder good woman, your companion, to explain."
At this Russell gave a look of despair.
"The very thing," said he, "that I dare not do."
"Why not?"
Russell then, still keeping up the part of Mrs. Russell, and mentioning Katie as her daughter, explained that Lopez was his bitter enemy, and told them about his love for Katie and his ejection from the railway-carriage.
"Well," said Brooke, "you needn"t be afraid of him. This matter will settle itself. He"ll free your daughter from captivity, and she"ll marry him, of course. After that you can take the sweetest revenge on him by tormenting him for the rest of his days as his mother-in-law."
Russell sighed a heavy sigh and turned away. As he did so, he caught the eyes of Rita, which were fastened upon him with a fixed, earnest, eager stare, and there was that in her look which served to drive away every other thought except the one that in this woman there was a new danger, more formidable than any which had yet menaced him.
This look made him feel like an arrested debtor in the grasp of the bailiff, or like an insane man under the watchful eye of his keeper.
In Rita he now recognized his bailiff and his keeper. She was worse.
She had designs on him! And for what? For marrying him. Marriage was, of course, impossible, for he had a wife already; but did Rita know this? To tell the truth, he had been fooling her; and he now saw for the first time that he would have to answer for this. When she should discover it, what would she do? He had heard the words of the poet:
"h.e.l.l hath no fury like a woman scorned,"
and he recalled these words only to shudder. He shuddered still more as he thought that Rita belonged to the Spanish race--a race that never forgives--a race implacable, swift to avenge--a race that recognizes only one atonement for wrongs, and that is to wipe them out in blood.
Such were the thoughts of our honest friend, and they were painful in the extreme. They awakened new fears. That one look of Rita"s made him dread her more than Lopez, more than "His Majesty." He began to think now, with something like pleasure, of going back to the castle.
Lopez would protect him; and if Lopez should fail, he would steal back by the secret path and surrender himself to "His Majesty." He would find his bonds, and purchase his freedom with these. In addition to this, he determined to wait for a favorable opportunity, when Rita might be away, to confide to these new and sympathizing friends the whole story of his woes.
Further conversation between Russell and these new friends was now prevented by the entrance of Lopez himself. He advanced to Brooke, and addressed him with much civility, not without friendliness.
"Senor," said he, "I have been thinking over your case, and I have concluded to hand you over to my military superiors. They may take the responsibility of deciding about your guilt or innocence. But for the present, as I am responsible for you, I must detain you as my prisoner. If you were only connected with some recognized profession, I should be happy to accept your parole, and let you follow at your leisure; but as you are considered here a possible spy, I cannot think of that. You must, therefore, come with us under guard.
Moreover, as to your friend, this young priest, he must consider himself as bound, for a short time, with us. I expect to have need of him for a few days. I have nothing against him; he is not a prisoner, but is detained merely for a purpose in connection with his sacred office. When that purpose is accomplished, he will be at liberty to go or stay."
With these words Lopez retired. He had taken no notice of Russell, at which the latter felt a deep sense of relief.
Far different, however, were the feelings of Brooke, and of Talbot also, when he had translated to her the captain"s words.
"He has need of me," repeated Talbot, "for a purpose in connection with my sacred office. Is that what he said, Brooke?"
"Yes," said Brooke, in a low voice.
"But what am I to do?"
Brooke led her away, out of Russell"s hearing, and conversed with her in low whispers.
"Don"t antic.i.p.ate trouble, Talbot," he whispered.
"But I must prepare myself for a possible emergency," was the reply.
"Now, what emergency can possibly arise?"
"The burial of the dead, perhaps," said Brooke. "They are going to attack the castle. Some will be killed. That"s natural enough. Have you nerve enough to perform the burial-service?"
"I don"t know," said Talbot. "I might as well try to command a regiment."
"Oh, I"ll show you the whole thing. All you"ve got to do is to read the burial-service out of the breviary. We"ll practice it together.
You need only p.r.o.nounce the Latin like Italian. Do you know Italian?"
"No."
"French?"
"No."
"Oh, well, you"re an English priest, you know, and so you had better p.r.o.nounce it like English. These devils will be none the wiser."
Talbot was silent and thoughtful for a few moments.
"Brooke," said she, at length, "what were they saying about Lopez going to rescue an English girl, this--this person"s daughter? This person, a--Mrs. Russell, said that Lopez was in love with the girl.
You spoke about his rescuing her and marrying her."
She hesitated.
"Well?" said Brooke.
"Well," said Talbot, mournfully, "don"t you see what I mean? and the use he wishes to make of me in my false character as priest?"
"By Jove!" exclaimed Brooke, as Talbot"s meaning dawned upon him.
"You see, Brooke, I"m afraid that in my disguise as priest I may be required to marry this English girl to Lopez; and that is sacrilege--it is infamy--it is too horrible. I cannot--I will not.
Never!"
At this Brooke was filled with consternation. He could only say something about the necessity of not antic.i.p.ating evil, and express the hope that it might only be a burial. But Talbot felt that her fear was just, and that a new and unavoidable danger now arose before her.
In a short time after this the band set off, guided by Rita. Toward evening they reached a spot about a mile from the castle, where they secreted themselves in a grove, and rested.
Evening came, and the moon rose. Then, as silently as possible, they went to the tower. Here arrangements were made for the security of the prisoners, and Rita prepared to lead the band through the secret way into the castle.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "Russell Followed, Not Without Difficulty."]
CHAPTER x.x.xVIII.
IN WHICH, AFTER A SERIES OF SURPRISES, "HIS MAJESTY" GETS THE GREATEST SURPRISE OF ALL.