Lopez now went to seek out Russell. He found the good man wearied and worn out. He led him away to a room that happened to be the very one in which he was confined before. Brooke and Talbot were both here. Russell entreated Brooke to intercede for him with Lopez. Lopez saw the action and understood it. "What does he want?" said Lopez. Russell then explained, through Brooke, what Lopez had already learned through Rita, namely, that he was Mr. Russell, and that Rita was claiming his fulfilment of a promise which he had never made, and could never fulfil--first, on the ground that Rita had not freed him; and, secondly, on the more important ground that he was already married. To all this the answer of Lopez was brief and stern. "She did free you," said he, "for you are now out of the power of the Carlists, and may be your own master on the performance of your promise. Moreover, as to your being married already, Rita assures me that your former wife is dead." At this Russell groaned. "She is not dead," he said. "Oh, well," said Lopez, "I don't care. Rita is willing to run the risk." Russell now pleaded for Katie's sake. But this roused Lopez to worse anger. "If you were merely a cruel father," said he, "I would forgive you for her sake; but you are a guardian, and not over-honest, as I believe. She has no love for you. She never wishes to see you again. Nor do I. You are nothing to her. She is nothing to you. You have made your bed, and must lie on it. You must blame yourself, and not me." With these words Lopez retired, leaving the unhappy Russell in a condition that may be better imagined than described. CHAPTER XLII. IN WHICH DOLORES REAPPEARS IN THE ACT OF MAKING A RECONNOITRE. Harry had already been set free, but Ashby was held as a prisoner. At first he remained in the room where Lopez had found him, along with the Carlist guard, but after a few hours he was removed to another chamber. This was chiefly to prevent any possible attempt at escape which Ashby might make with the assistance of the other prisoners, who, knowing the weak points of the castle, might be able, with a bold leader, to strike an effective blow for liberty. The moonbeams now were streaming in upon the stone floor where the six Carlist prisoners were lying. They were sound asleep, and their deep breathing was the only sound that might be heard. Two of them were in the bed, the other four were on the floor. But these men were used to roughing it, and on the flinty pavement they slept as soundly as on a bed of down. Suddenly, in the neighborhood of the chimney, there was a slight noise. No one in the room heard it, for they were all sleeping too soundly. The noise ceased for a time; then it was renewed. It was a rustling, sliding sound, as of some living thing moving there. After this the noise ceased. There was another long pause. Then came a whisper-- "_Assebi_!" No one heard. The sleepers were all far away in the land of dreams.