"You little white-faced fool! I would you had never set foot in this town," she cried bitterly. "Ah! madame, I came not of my own free will," I answered her. "I and my dear love would willingly go hence, an you gave us the means to do so!" "'Tis likely that we shall, truly," she replied. "'Tis likely that the Governor of San Augustin will keep a galley to ply up and down the coast for the convenience of you English intruders! There came two more of you this morning, from the friar at Santa Catalina." "Two more English prisoners!" I exclaimed. "Who are they, madame?" "I know not, and I care not," she said. "I meddle not with things that do not concern me. I come here now but to hear how you came to be on the streets at midnight. Had I been in the Governor's place then, I would have shut the door in your face." I told her the truth, as it had happened to me; and when she had heard it her brow lightened somewhat. "Are you deceiving me? You did not leave here till _after_ the duel had taken place?" "Madame," I said, "I have never yet told a lie, and I would not now were it to save my life." Her lip curled slightly as she turned to go. "Stir not from this room, then, until Don Pedro is well enough to leave the house," she said. "If I could prevent it he should never look upon your face again." She paused an instant, then added: "I _will_ prevent it!" "Amen to that!" I said, and I felt the blood burn warmly in my cheek. She turned and looked at me, and I met her gaze with defiant eyes. "Amen to that, madame!--for truly I hate him with all my heart!" She stood still, a slow crimson rising in her pale face, and I trembled a little at my own daring. Then, to my surprise, she laughed at me. "You think that you hate him desperately?" she exclaimed. "Silly child, it is not in thy power to hate that man as I do, as I have done for years!" and with that she went away and left me wondering. CHAPTER X. July, the 16th day. Two things have happened recently to break the sad monotony of my life within these walls. Dona Orosia and Melinza have had a disagreement, which has resulted in his removal hence--at his own demand. Although I know nothing of the cause of their quarrel, Dona Orosia's last words to me, the other day, make it possible to understand the man's reluctance to remain here in her care,--and yet they say it was her nursing that saved his life! I would that I could understand it all! Since his departure I have had the freedom of the courtyard and garden; and yesterday, by good chance, I had speech with one of the newly arrived English prisoners.