"Why not?" asked Talbot. "What objection is there to it?" "Such a question," said Brooke, "does not deserve an answer." "My plan is feasible enough, and quite safe too." "Nonsense! And what, pray, is to become of you?" "Never mind that. Think of yourself, Brooke, for once in your life. To stay here is certain death for you. This is your very last chance." Brooke was silent for a little time. "Well," said Talbot, "will you go?" "Oh, Talbot! Talbot!" cried Brooke; "how can you have the heart to make such a proposal to me? I have told you that the only thing that moves me is the thought of your danger. Death is nothing to me; I've faced it hundreds of times." "It is preposterous to talk in that way!" said Talbot, excitedly. "My danger? I deny that there is any danger for me. As an English lady, I shall be safe in any event. I'm sorry I ever took this disguise. If you take it back you can go away now in safety. When they find that you have gone, they may perhaps threaten a little, but that is all. They will have nothing against me, and will, no doubt, set me free. This captain seems to be a gentleman, and I should have no fear of him. I believe that after the first explosion he would treat me with respect, and let me go." "And so you would really let me go?" said Brooke, after a long pause, in a very low voice. "Gladly, gladly," said Talbot. "And stay here alone, in a new character, ignorant of the language, to face the return of the mad and furious crowd?" "Yes." "They would tear you to pieces," cried Brooke. "They would not." "They would." "Then let them. I can die," said Talbot, calmly. "And die for me?" "Yes, rather than let you die for me." "And you think I am capable of going away?" said Brooke, in a faltering voice. At this Talbot was utterly silent. Neither spoke a word for a long time. "Talbot, lad," said Brooke, at length, in a gentle voice. "Well, Brooke!" "I am glad that I met with you." "Are you, Brooke?" "I should like to live," he continued, in a far-off tone, like one soliloquizing, "after having met with you; but if I cannot live, I shall be glad to think that I have ever known you." Talbot said nothing to this, and there was another long silence. "By-the-bye," said Brooke, at last, "I should like to tell you something, Talbot, in case you should ever happen to meet with a certain friend of mine--you might mention how you met with me, and so on." "Yes," said Talbot, in a low voice. "This friend," said Brooke, "is a girl." He paused. "Yes," said Talbot, in the same voice. "It was in Cuba that I met with her. Her name is Dolores." "Dolores--what?" "Dolores Garcia." "I shall remember the name."