The girl seemed suddenly to throw off the weight of her grief. She
seized the hand of the Vicomtesse in both of her own.
"The Baron pardoned him?" she cried. "Tell me what his Excellency said.
Why are you keeping it from me?"
"Hush, my dear," said the Vicomtesse. "Yes, he pardoned him. Mr. Temple
was to have come to the city to-night with an officer. Mr. Ritchie and I
came to this house together, and we found--"
"Yes, yes," said Antoinette.
"Mr. Ritchie wrote to Mr. Temple that his Excellency was to send for him
to-night, but Andre told him of the fever, and he came here in the face
of danger to see her before she died. He galloped past the sentry at the
gate, and the Alcalde followed him from there."
"And came here to arrest him?" cried Antoinette. Before the Vicomtesse
could prevent her she sprang from her chair, ran to the door, and was
peering out into the darkness. "Is the Alcalde waiting?"
"No, no," said the Vicomtesse, gently bringing her back. "I wrote to his
Excellency and we have his permission for Mr. Temple to remain here."
Suddenly Antoinette stopped in the middle of the floor, facing the
candle, her hands clasped, her eyes wide with fear. We started, Helene
and I, as we looked at her.
"What is it, my dear?" said the Vicomtesse, laying a hand on her arm.
"He will take it," she said, "he will take the fever.
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