This place was a large stone mansion, and it was shut up and fortified, this being done in case the rebels should gain ground and advance in that direction. At that time no Spaniard dreamed that the Cubans would soon be knocking at the very doors of Havana itself, the conquerors of all the remainder of "The Ever-Faithful Isle." Estella was allowed the liberty of the house, but was not permitted to go outside, even to walk in the garden, which was full of choice flowers and shrubs. Her father would not listen to her story of how Howard had saved her life and had chided her roundly for all her rebel tendencies. "The American is what they call smart, but that is all. He is here for adventure and gold--he is not fighting for a principle," said General Corona. "I want you to forget him. As for those accursed rebels, we will soon have them under foot, and then we will make them pay dearly for their doings!" He rode away without even kissing her, as was his usual habit. Later on Estella learned that he had given strict orders that she must not be allowed outside of the door, nor was she to receive any visitors, unless they were sent by himself. She was virtually a prisoner. Hard as was her lot, Estella thought nothing of it. She would have been content had she but known that her lover was safe. But she knew absolutely nothing of what had become of Howard, and her mind was in an agony of fear, thinking he had been killed in the battle, or seriously wounded. In several ways she endeavored to send out some message that might reach him, but each time the endeavor was a failure. The men her father had hired to guard the place were faithful to their trust, and nothing escaped their notice. Cara, also, was very unhappy, for Tomasso, the one man of her heart, was missing. With tears in her eyes the maid would speak of him. "If he were here he would help you," she said. "But, alas! he, too, has gone! Perhaps both have been killed!" And then she would burst out afresh. On the fourth day of her enforced seclusion, Estella, from her bedroom window, saw a horseman in the uniform of a Spanish officer ride in at the broad gateway and up to the front of the house. He carried his arm in a sling, and his soft hat, with its drooping black ostrich feather, was pulled well down over his face, yet as he came closer she recognized him as Lieutenant Mazenas. He passed in at the front door and Cara presently came to announce him. "I do not care to see him!" exclaimed Estella, with a pale face. "Tell him I am not receiving visitors." The maid departed, but speedily returned. "He says he brings news from your father, and must speak to you in private." The beautiful girl had not heard from her parent for forty-eight hours, and, afraid that something might have happened to him, she made a few changes in her toilet, and met the lieutenant in the gloomy parlor, each window of which was now heavily barred, in defense of a possible attack.