He felt again disappointed (in fact, Lopez was apparently always feeling disappointed), though why he should feel so is somewhat singular, since Katie would have been more than human, or less, if she had shown a joyous face in such a situation. Lopez gave a sigh by way of salutation. Katie did not look up, but knew perfectly well who it was and what he wanted. "I hope you have found this room more comfortable than the last," he began at length, after the usual salutation. "I'm sure I don't see what comfort one can expect in such a place as this," was the reply. "I'm sorry that I haven't anything better to offer," said Lopez; "anything that is in my power to grant I will do for you." "Those are merely idle words," said Katie. "There is one thing, and one only, that I wish, and that you can give: that one thing you have no right to keep from me, and yet it is useless to ask you for it." "Useless--oh, do not say that! Tell me what it is." "My freedom," said Katie, earnestly. "Freedom!" said Lopez; "why, you are free--free as a bird!" "Yes, as a bird in a cage," was the bitter reply. "Ladies must always be under some restraint," said Lopez: "otherwise you are perfectly free." "This, sir," said Katie, hotly, "I consider insult; it is nothing less than mockery at my distress. Is it freedom to be locked up in a cell and cut off from all my friends?" Lopez gave a gasp. He was anxious to please Katie, yet this was a bad, a very bad beginning. "Why," said he, "where can you go?" "You will not even let me go about the castle," said Katie. "If you barred your gates, and let me move about inside, even then it would be imprisonment; but you lock me in this cell, and then you come to mock me." "Great Heaven!" said Lopez. "Oh, senorita! won't you understand? Let me explain. This castle is full of rough, rude men. It would not be safe for you to move about. They are not trained servants; they are brutal and fierce. If you went among them you would be exposed to insult." "My attendant comes and goes," said Katie; "she is not insulted. Why may I not be at least as free as she is?" "Because," said Lopez, "you are a lady; she is only a common woman. Things would be insults to you which she only laughs at. I cannot allow you to expose yourself to the brutal ribaldry of the ruffians below. If a father had his daughter here, he would lock her up, as I do you, out of affection." At this Katie turned her head away, with the air of one who was utterly incredulous, and felt the uselessness of argument. Lopez was silent for a few moments. Then he went on. [Illustration: "She Sat With Clasped Hands And Bowed Head."]