"Well, sir, I have contrived to see her; come into the front room and I will tell you all about it!" said the outlaw, leading the way into the old parlor that had been the scene of so many of their conspiracies. "Does Capitola Le Noir still live?" hoarsely demanded the colonel, as the two conspirators reached the parlor. "Still live? Yes; 'twas but yesterday we agreed upon her death! Give a man time! Sit down, colonel! Take this seat. We will talk the matter over again." With something very like a sigh of relief, Colonel Le Noir threw himself into the offered chair. Black Donald drew another chair up and sat down beside his patron. "Well, colonel, I have contrived to see the girl as I told you," he began. "But you have not done the deed! When will it be done?" "Colonel, my patron, be patient! Within twelve days I shall claim the last instalment of the ten thousand dollars agreed upon between us for this job!" "But why so long, since it is to be done, why not have it over at once?" said Colonel Le Noir, starting up and pacing the floor impatiently. "Patience, my colonel! The cat may play with the mouse most delightfully before devouring it!" "What do you mean?" "My colonel, I have seen the girl, under circumstances that has fired my heart with an uncontrollable desire for her." "Ha, ha ha!" scornfully laughed the colonel. "Black Donald, the mail robber, burglar, outlaw, the subject of the grand passion!" "Why not, my colonel? Listen, you shall hear! And then you shall judge whether or not you yourself might not have been fired by the fascinations of such a witch!" said the outlaw, who straightway commenced and gave his patron the same account of his visit to Hurricane Hall that he had already related to his comrades. The colonel heard the story with many a "pish," "tush" and "pshaw," and when the man had concluded the tale he exclaimed: "Is that all? Then we may continue our negotiations, I care not! Carry her off! marry her! do as you please with her! only at the end of all--kill her!" hoarsely whispered Le Noir. "That is just what I intend, colonel!" "That will do if the event be certain: but it must be certain! I cannot breathe freely while my brother's heiress lives," whispered Le Noir. "Well, colonel, be content; here is my hand upon it! In six days Capitola will be in my power! In twelve days you shall be out of hers!" "It is a bargain," said each of the conspirators, in a breath, as they shook hands and parted--Le Noir to his home and Black Donald to join his comrades' revelry. CHAPTER XXIII. THE BOY'S LOVE Endearing! endearing! Why so endearing Are those soft shining eyes, Through their silk fringe peering? They love thee! they love thee! Deeply, sincerely; And more than aught else on earth Thou lovest them dearly! --Motherwell.