There was a suggestiveness in this question which flashed at once in all its fullest meaning into Katie's mind. She dropped his hands; she sank upon the floor; she bowed her head tremblingly and despairingly. Lopez looked at her with an agitation equal to her own, and a despair only less. She loved another--she could never love him; she loved another--oh, how vehemently, how dearly she loved him! Yet she _must_ be his! "One hour was allowed him," murmured Lopez--"one hour to prepare. Much of that hour has already passed. Say, will you save his life? and shall I set him free? Say, shall I go to ruin? Say, will you give up as much for me as I am ready to give up for you? Quick--another minute, and it may be too late!" Katie started up wildly. "Go! go!" she said, in a hot, feverish whisper. "Haste--fly--save him!" "You promise?" said Lopez. "Oh, my God! yes!" cried Katie, and fell senseless to the floor. "See to your mistress," said Lopez, in a faltering voice, as he went outside and met the attendant there. Then Lopez went away, not to free Harry, for he was already free, but to a lonely room, where he flung himself on his face on the stony floor, and lay there long, weeping like a child. For the agony of this man at winning Katie thus was equal to that of Katie over her act of self-sacrifice. CHAPTER XLVII. IN WHICH LOPEZ USES HIS ADVANTAGE TO THE UTTERMOST, AND KATIE SINKS INTO DEEPER DESPAIR. And so Lopez had resolved to gratify both his love and his vengeance. He was determined at all hazards to force Katie to be his wife; and at the same time he would be able to take a sweet and most effective revenge on the hated Ashby. As for this new lover, Rivers, who had so unexpectedly started up, the decision was more difficult. He felt no hate toward him as he did toward Ashby. He had received no insults at his hands. There was in Harry's manner none of that outrageous superciliousness which had made Ashby so detestable. The face of Rivers was of itself one which conciliated all, and his character was visible in his frank, free, and easy manners. With such a man it was almost impossible to quarrel; still, the jealousy of Lopez had been roused at the discovery of Katie's love for Rivers, and for this he felt a resentment. He determined, therefore, to include that young man in his plans, and thought that the simplest and most effective mode of dealing with him would be to invite him also to the wedding. Thus both the lovers should see with their own eyes the end of this affair. Ashby should see it, Rivers also should see it. The prospect was a delightful one, and did much toward restoring Lopez to his equanimity. "Aha!" he said to himself, as he reached this conclusion--"aha, my tender, cooing doves! how will you like that?" [Illustration: "He Flung Himself On His Face On The Stony Floor, And Lay There Long."]