'It seemed to me it was rather a time for action than for explanations, so, taking an excellent Spanish dagger, which I had had in my possession many years, I succeeded in wrenching out the two staples which fastened the door on my side, and then putting my mouth to the key-hole, I asked: 'Have you the key?' ''Yes.' ''Then unlock the door, and bring the key with you to this side.' 'A few moments more, and a woman, to judge from the lightness of the tread, for I was still without light, precipitated herself into, rather than entered, the room. ''Oh! thanks; from my heart I thank you, Señor, whoever you are; I owe my life to your kind assistance.' 'The sound of her voice, which I at once recognized, changed the suspicion which had from the first moment flashed upon my mind, into full assurance. ''Do not be afraid, madame,' said I, 'you are in perfect safety here. Do you lock the door, while I look to my candles.' 'The first object my candle brought to light was the pale but still charming face of my beautiful country-woman. ''You, sir!' she exclaimed, scarcely able to suppress her astonishment. 'In mercy I implore you, save me from the fury of my husband.' ''Of Mr. Albert Pride?' ''No, sir, Albert is not my husband; but, listen!--do you not hear?--they are quarreling--they are struggling.' 'I listened. She was not mistaken. In spite of the two partitions which separated us from the scene of this angry interview, we distinctly heard the furious accents of passion. All at once a violent shock made the wall--thin enough, it is true--creak and rattle; then, a moment afterward, we heard the fall as of a body, accompanied with a low moan. ''Albert is dead! He has murdered him; but woe be to him. I will be revenged yet,' exclaimed my companion, her eyes glaring with unearthly fire. 'At this moment, hasty footsteps sounded in the adjoining room, which I subsequently discovered was Pride's bed-chamber. ''Sir,' said a voice choked with anger, 'you are a coward, and shall give me satisfaction for this insult.' ''You brought it on yourself, by your own obstinacy. Had you not opposed my entrance to this room, I should not have used violence toward _you_, at any rate. As for the satisfaction you claim, I will think about that.' ''Well, you see that your wife is not here,' replied Albert, after a short silence, during which we could hear the furniture being moved, closets opened, and the curtain-rings rattle. ''True, sir; but her absence only proves one thing, that in one particular I have been misinformed.' ''Confess rather, egregiously duped.' ''_Duped!_--nay, you are the dupe. Will you, Arthur Livermore, give me your word of honor as a gentleman, that my wife, Adéle Percival, has not followed you to Mexico? Will you deny that she is now your mistress?' ''Yes, sir, I give you my word of honor,' replied Albert or Arthur, in a low, husky voice.