The royal favorite started guiltily. Since the news of the Confederacy's surrender, Lopez's ambitions were clouded by a growing fear of the fugitive Mexican republic. The Republic would have a good memory for royal favorites, and he had been thinking on it. "Will Lee's surrender make such--such a difference?" he faltered. "So much," retorted Tiburcio, "that to-morrow we will have more rebels yet. So much, that what with freeing peons and confiscating nationalized church lands and giving them back to the church--well, a very little more might decide between Empire and Republic." "A little more? What do you mean?" "I mean money for the rebels. Luz's father is rich. If he knew that Maximilian----" "Hombre, hombre, he's a miser!" "Just the same, I'm a loyal Imperialist, and if you are, too, you will take good care to tell nothing to Don Anastasio." "You forget, senor, that I am the one to say that to you." "Then don't forget, Colonel Lopez. Do not forget that she fell, that it was a simple accident." "Yes, a simple accident. Wait here, I am going to bring her father." On returning Lopez sent the guards away, and he and Murguia were alone together. The old man stood dazed, unresisting. "One minute more," said Lopez. "First, I must tell you something. And afterward, you will remember. Yes, you will remember--afterward. You know who I am, that I command the Dragoons of the Empress.--Are you listening? But do you know that, in a way, I am Maximilian's confidant? Whenever he walks or rides, incognito, dressed as a ranchero, I alone go with him, as I did during the past ten days while we stopped at Las Palmas, three leagues from here. The very first evening there, we two rode out, with our cloaks about us. He likes to commune with nature, and gather curious flowers which he pastes in a book and labels with Latin names. But this time he was interested in peons, yet as he had a delicacy about prying into his host's business, we rode until we left Las Palmas behind us. His Majesty would gaze on the hills and look at the sunset, and he talked to me of a poetic calm about them which made him long for he knew not what. And Murguia----" Here the speaker paused abruptly, and his faded eyes shifted and hardened. "And Murguia, we came here, and--he met your child. He met her here, at this chapel, where she had been to pray for her aunt. Old man, do you hear me, the Emperor met your daughter! Then, next day, instead of going on with his journey, he complained of a cough, and stayed at Las Palmas. But every evening he rode here, he and I. Once I found a chance to ask her her name, but she would only tell her given name.--There, you will remember? Yes, you will--after you have seen her. Come, she is not far away." CHAPTER XXII EQUIDAD EN LA JUSTICIA "... and I think I shall begin to take pleasure in being at home and minding my business. I pray God I may, for I finde a great need thereof." --_Pepys's Diary_.