The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-19

/ wealth would DO forfeit to its king. whose
ward his daughter would become,to be given
in marriage where he Villed. while he HIM
self, being Spanish born. might pOEhSps be
handed over TO the power Of Spain. there to
make answer 70 these charges But We
wander TO strange mattsrS. 10 that alliance
sdll impossible. Sshorf'
CasteIl looked him straight In the eyes
and answered;
yes"
There was something 90 poid and direct
In his utteranoe Of the word that for q mo-
ment D'Aguilar seemed 10 be taken aback.
He had not expected this sharp denial.
1T would be courteous 70 give @ reason
he ssid, presently.
THE reason 10 simple. Marquis. Ny
daughter 10 already b~etrothed, and will ere
long DO welded"
D'Aguilar did not seem surprised at this
intelligence.
Ito that brawler, your kinsmsn. Peter
Bronze. I SUPPOSED he said, interrogatively.
Il guessed al much. and by the saints /
am sorry for her. for he must be a dull
lover to one DO fair and bright; while as
n husband And he shrugged his
shoulders. Friend Casteil, for her sake
you VIII break on this maton.
And II l will not. Marquis?'
Then / must break 1t Of for you in the
interest Of all Of us. including. Of course,
myself. who love her. and wish TO lift her to
. great place, and Of yourself. whom ! desire
should pass your old g in peace and
wealth and not be hunted 10 your death
like a mad dog
How will you break IL MarQuisf By
"0h. no. Sehori' answered D'Aguilar. mot
by other mems s~wordO-f that IL what you
mean. The worthy Peter 10 safe from
them 20 far as l am concerned. though II he
should come face to face with mine. then
let b 70 best man win. Have no fear, friend,
! do not practise murder. who value my
own soul too much TO soak IL in blood, nor
would I marry q woman except Of her own
free will. Still, Peter may die. and the fair
Margaret may still place her hand In mine
and say I choose you as my husband
AN those things and many others may
happen, Marquis, but / do not think 1t likely
that they will happen, and for my part.
while thanking you for for 1t. deCline your
honorable offer. believing that my daughter
will DO more happy In her present humble
state with the man she has chosen. Have L
your leave to return 20 my acoountsf' And
he rose.
YES, Sehor,' answered D'Aguilar, rising
also; but add an item to those loesea OF
which you spoke. that OF the friendship OF
! Carlos, Marquis de Morella. and on the other
side enter again that of his hate. Mani he
added, and his dark. handsome face turned
very evil as he spoke. ARE you mad3 Think
OF the little tabernacle behind the altar in
your chapel, and what IL contains
Castell stared at him. then said:
Come, let us zee. Nay, fear no trick; like
you 1 remember my soul. and do not stain
my hands with blood. Follow me. 30 you
will be safe
Curiosity or some other reason prompted
D'Aguilar to obey, and presently they stood
behind the altar.
Now said Castell. as he drew the tap
estry and opened the secret door. 'lookl'
sDARuilar peered into the place. but
where should have been the table. the ark,
the candlesticks and the roll Of the law. Of
which Betty had told him. were only dusty
boxes filled with parchments and come
broken furniture,
what do you seer asked Castell.
Il see. friend. that youare even q cleverer
Jew than / thought. But this Ia a matter
tQbt you I1ubt C1ptblu W ohiOib AZ ~ WI
son. Believe me, / I'M no inquisitor.'
Then. without more words. he turned and
left him.
When Castell. having shut the secret door
and drawn the tapestry, hurried from the
chapel, IL was to find that the marquis had
departed from the house. !,
He won't back TO his Office much disturbed
and sat himself down there to think. Truly
Fate. that had 30 long been his friend, was
turning its face against him. Things could
not have gone worse.
D'ARuilar had discovered the secret Of
his faith through his spies. and having
by some accursed misohanoe fallen In love
With his daughters beauty was become
his bitter enemy because he must refuse
her to him. Why must he refuse herr
The mar was OF great position and noble
blood; she would become the wife Of one
Of the first grandees Of Spain. n who
stood nearest TO the throne. Perhaps
such o thing was po~ssible-she might live
herself to be q queen or the mother OF
kings.
Moreover that marriage meant safety
for himself; 1t meant q quiet age. q peace
able death In his W bed. Were he fifty
times o Marano. who would touch the father
in-law Of the Marquis de Morella?
whyi just because he had promised
her In marriage to Peter Bronze. and through
all his life as q merchant he had never yet
broken with a bargain because it went
against him.
That was the 8 Yet almost he
could find 1t In his heart TO wish that he
had never made that bargain; that he had
kept Peter. who had waited 90 long, waiting
for another month. Well, 1t was too late
now. He had passed his word and he
would keep II. whatever the cost.
Rising he called one Of the serv6nts
and bade her summon Margaret. Presently
che returned, saying that her mistress
had gone out walking with Betty. adding
also chat his horse was at the door for him
to ride TO the river. where he was to pass
the night on board his ship.
Taking paper he bethought him that
against the SpaniArd. Then remember
ing that abe had nothing 70 fear from him.
at any rate at present. and that IL wae not
wtBe 10 set down such matters he told her
TO take good care OF herself and that he
would be back In th Q morning.
To b. continued.