Beth Norvell's eyes softened in sudden pity. The unconscious appeal within that broken voice, which had lost all semblance of threat, seemed to reveal instantly the whole sad story, and her heart gave immediate response. She reached out, touching gently the hand in which she saw the gleam of the knife-blade. There was no fear in her now, nothing but an infinite womanly sympathy. "He is nothing to me," she said, earnestly, "absolutely nothing. I despise him--that is all. He is unworthy the thought of any woman." The slender figure of the Mexican swayed as though stricken by a blow, the fierce, tigerish passion dying out of her face, her free hand seeking her throat as though choking. "Nothing?" she gasped, incredulously. "_Sapristi_, I think you lie, senorita. Nothing? Vy you go to him in secret? Vy you stay and talk so long? I not understand." "He sent for me; he wished me to aid him in a business matter." The other stared incredulous, her form growing rigid with gathering suspicion that this fair American was only endeavoring to make her a fool through the use of soft speech. The white teeth gleamed again maliciously. "You speak false to Mercedes," she cried hotly, her voice trembling. "Vy he send for you, senorita? You know him?" There was a bare instant of seeming hesitation, then the quiet, better controlled voice answered soberly: "Yes, in the East, three years ago." Like a flash of powder, the girl of the hot-blooded South burst into fresh flame of passion, her foot stamping the floor, her black eyes glowing with unrestrained anger. "_Dios de Dios_! Eet ees as I thought. He lofe you, not Mercedes. Vy I not kill you?--hey?" Miss Norvell met her fiercely threatening look, her single step of advance, without tremor or lowering of the eyes. She even released her grasp upon the uplifted knife, as if in utter contempt. For a moment they confronted each other, and then, as suddenly as she had broken into flame, the excitable young Mexican burst into tears. As though this unexpected exhibition of feeling had inspired the action, the other as quickly decided upon her course.