The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-28

her refcctively, and not without a certain
measure Of homage.
Il think" he remarked, that II he did
not happen to he in love with another
woman and to believe That no had married
her. You, my good Betty, would make a
useful wife 10 any mar who wished to get
on in the world. I understood you 10 say
that the door Is locked, andif ! might hazard
a guess, you nave the key, as also You
happen TO have a dagger. Well, l find
the air in this place close n l want 70 go
out"
Where tor" asked Betty.
Let us say, to Join lnez."
What, " she asked, would you already
be running after that woman again? Do
you already forget you are marricd?"
1T seems that / arm not to he allowed
to forget it. Now, let us bargain. l wish
to leave Granada for u while and without
scandal.
What are your terms? Remember that
there are two TO which l will not consent.
l will not stop here with you and you shall
not accompany me.
Remember, also, that. although you
hold the dagger At present, it is not wise Of
you TO try to push this jsst too far"
As you did when you decoyed me on
board the San Antonio" said Betty. We'll,
our honeymoon has not begun too sweetly.
md l do not mind II you 60 away for n
wbile-to look for Inez.
Swear now that you mean me no harm
and that you will not plot my death or
disgrace. or in any way interfere with my
liberty Of position here in Granada. Swear
il on the rood"
And she took down a silver crucifix that
hung upon the wall over the bed and handed
it to him. For she knew Morella's super
stitions. and thai IL once he swore upon
this symbol he dare not break his oath.
And IL I will not swear?" he asked, sui
lenly.
Then" she answered. you stop here
until you do. you who are anxious to be
gone. / have eaten food this morning.
you have not; I nave a dagger, you LAY
none; and. being as we are. l am sure that
no one will entur to disturb us until
Inez and your friend the priest have gone
further than you can follow"
very well. ! will swear" he said, and
he kissed the crucilx and threw it down.
You can stop here and rul, my house
in Granada. and I will do you no mischief
nor trouble you in any way But il you
come ont Of Granada, we cross swords"
You mean that you intend to leave
this city2 Then here is paper and ink.
Be so good as to sign an order TO the stew
ards Of your estates within the territories
Of the Moorish king to pay all their revenues
TO me during your absence. and to your
servants to obey me in everything
1T is easy to see that you were brought
up in the house of a Jew merchant" said
Morella, biting his pen and considering
this womaa who. whether she were hawk
or pigeon. knew 40 well how to feather
her nest. We'll. il grant you this posi-
ton and these revenues will you leave
me alone and cease to press other claims
upon meP"
Now Betty. ~bethinking her Of those
papers that I6ez had carried away with
her, and that Castell and Margaret would
know well how TO use them IL there were
need. bethinking her also that il she pushed
him too far at the beginning she might
die suddenly as folk sometimes did in
Granada, answered.:
1T is much TO ask of a deluded woman.
but I still have some pride. and will not
thrust myself in where it seems l am not
wanted. Therefore so be it. Till you
seek me or send for me I will not seek you,
! 30 long as you keep your bargain. Now
write the paper. sign it. an call In your
secretaries to witness the signature
in whose favor must ! word it?' he
asked.
in that Of the Msrquessa of Morella. =
she answered. and he. seeing a loophole
in the words. obeyed her. since II she were
not his wife this writing would have no
value
Somehow he must be rid Of this woman.
OF course he might cause her to be killed;
but even in Granada people could not
kill one to whom they had seemed to he
just married without questions being asked
Moreover. Betty had friends, and he had
enemies who would certainly ask them
il she vanished away,
No. he would sign the paper and fight
the case afterward. for he had no time
to lose. Margaret had slipped away from
him. and IL once she escaped from Spain
he knew he would never see her more.
For aught he knew she might already
have escaped or be married to Peter Bronze.
The very thought Of it filled him with mad
ness. There had been a conspiracy against
him; he wal outwitted. robbed befooled.
Well, hope still remained-and vengeance.
He could still fight Peter, n perhaps kill
him. He could hand over Castell. the jew,
l 10 Jne InuuibltlOu. Tt COuiu lilu u way
to deal with the priest Henriques and the
woman Ihez. and. perhaps. II fortune ia
vored him. he could get Margaret back into
his power.
Obi yes. he would sign anything IL only
thereby he was set at liberty and freed
for a while from this servant who called
herself his wife. this strong minded, strong
bodied clever English woman, of whom he
had thought TO make a tool and who had
made a tool Of him.
So Betty dictated, and he wrote; yes,
it had come 10 this--she dictated and he
wrote. and signed too. The order was
comprehensive. L. ave power to the
most honorable Marquessa Of Morella to
act for him. her husband. in all things dur
ing his absence from Granada. II com
manded that all rents and profits due to
him should be paid to her. and that all his
servants and dependents should sbey her
az though she we're himself. and that her
receipt should be al good as his receipt.
When the paper was written, and Betty
had anelIed IL over carefully IN acc that thara