"'Twas deliberately done?"

"Nay, not that; but I----"

"S'death! What did you?"

"I told her that I loved her, again----"

"Shame! Shame!"

"I took her into my arms once more----"

"Thou double traitor! And she----"

"My lord, condemn her not. She is young--a woman."

"I do not consider Captain Alvarado, a dishonored soldier, my proper mentor. I shall know how to treat my daughter. What more?"

"Nothing more. We abandoned ourselves to our dream, and at the first possible moment I am come to tell you all--to submit----"

"Hast no plea to urge?" persisted the old man.

"None."

"But your reason? By G.o.d's death, why do you tell me these things? If thou art base enough to fall, why not base enough to conceal?"

"I could not do so, your Excellency. I am not master of myself when she is by--'tis only when away from her I see things in their proper light.

She blinds me. No, sir," cried the unhappy Alvarado, seeing a look of contempt on the grim face of the old general, "I do not urge this in defense, but you wanted explanation."

"Nothing can explain the falsehood of a gentleman, the betrayal of a friend, the treachery of a soldier."

"Nothing--hence I am here."

"Perhaps I have estimated you too highly," went on the old man musingly.

"I had hoped you were gentle--but base blood must run in your veins."

"It may be," answered the young man brokenly, and then he added, as one detail not yet told, "I have found my mother, sir."

"Thy mother? What is her condition?" cried the Viceroy, in curious and interested surprise that made him forget his wrath and contempt for the moment.

"She was an abbess of our Holy Church. She died upon the sands of La Guayra by her own hand rather than surrender her honor or lend aid to the sack of the town."

"That was n.o.ble," interrupted the old de Lara. "I may be mistaken after all. Yet 'twere well she died, for she will not see----"

He paused significantly.

"My shame?" asked Alvarado.

"Thy death, senor, for what you have done. No other punishment is meet.

Did Donna Mercedes send any message to me?"

Alvarado could not trust himself to speak. He bowed deeply.

"What was it?"

The young man stood silent before him.

"Well, I will learn from her own lips if she be alive when we come to the city. I doubt not it will excuse thee."

"I seek not to shelter myself behind a woman."

"That's well," said the old man. "But now, what is to be done with thee?"

"My lord, give me a chance, not to live, but to die honestly. Let me play my part this day as becomes a man, and when Donna Mercedes is restored to your arms----"

"Thou wilt plead for life?"

"Nay, as G.o.d hears me, I will not live dishonored. Life is naught to me without the lady. I swear to thee----"

"You have given me your word before, sir," said the old man sternly.

"On this cross--it was my mother's," he pulled from his doublet the silver crucifix and held it up. "I will yield my life into your hands without question then, and acclaim before the world that you are justified in taking it. Believe me----"

"Thou didst betray me once."

"But not this time. Before G.o.d--by Christ, His Mother, by my own mother, dead upon the sands, by all that I have hoped for, by my salvation, I swear if I survive the day I will go gladly to my death at your command!"

"I will trust you once more, thus far. Say naught of this to any one.

Leave me!"

"Your Excellency," cried the young man, kneeling before him, "may G.o.d reward you!"

He strove to take the hand of the old man, but the latter drew it away.

"Even the touch of forsworn lips is degradation. You have your orders.

Go!"

Alvarado buried his face in his hands, groaned bitterly, and turned away without another word.

CHAPTER XX

WHEREIN MASTER TEACH, THE PIRATE, DIES BETTER THAN HE LIVED

[Ill.u.s.tration]