In the midst of their deliberations—if a hopeless search after desperate expedients could be so called—a light knock was heard at the door, and on being opened, it admitted Harding’s trusty messenger, Margarita’s half-brother. He paused at the threshold and gazed about him. It was the first time he had ever been admitted into the private apartments of a place which he had been taught to consider his own, and the gleam of his dark eye would have betrayed his thoughts to any one less preoccupied than Margarita. The expression soon faded away, however, and without salutation he advanced to Margarita, and abruptly asked— “Are you about to marry Count De Marsiac, willingly?” “Why do you ask?” Margarita inquired. “I wish to prevent it,” he replied calmly. “How can you do so?” “By gaining time, till the _Texanos_ come,” he answered. “If you can do this,” said Margarita, eagerly, “your reward shall even exceed your own expectations.” “My reward does not depend upon you,” he coldly replied. “It is quite as much to my interest to prevent the marriage, as it can be to yours.” “How can that be?” interposed one of the women. “That will be explained hereafter,” the young man replied. “If you will follow my directions the marriage shall be prevented.” “What do you wish me to do?” asked Margarita. “Only to delay your preparations as long as you can, and if the Texans do not arrive before the hour—” “Nine o’clock is the time,” interrupted Margarita, “and it wants but half an hour of it, now.” “I know,” said the other, “but linger as long as possible. Do not tempt the count to any violence; when you can delay no longer, go to the altar, and you will understand what I mean.” There was no alternative but to trust him; and Margarita did so the more willingly, because he dictated the only course she could see open to her—procrastination, in the hope of relief. His motives were plain enough, though she could not fathom them. He claimed the _hacienda_ as his own, but he knew that if it once fell into the hands of a man, whose grasp was as tenacious as that of the count, his title would have but small chance of successful assertion, and he was therefore interested in preventing his union with Margarita. * * * * *