The struggle will be long, but you shall be my guiding star
in the hour of darkness."
Under other circumstances the man's magnificent egotism might have
provoked a smile. And yet, for all its grandiloquence, there was
something in his speech that rang hard and true. Unquestionably
Longorio was dangerous--a real personality, and no mere swaggering
pretender. Alaire felt a certain reluctant respect for him, and at
the same time a touch of chilling fear such as she had hardly
experienced before. She faced him silently for a moment; then she
said:
"Am I to understand that you forbid me to leave my own house?"
"For the time being, exactly."
"What? Then I am your prisoner!"
"No, no!" He made a gesture of denial. "How ridiculous! I merely
keep you from certain destruction. You cannot go by train, because
the railroad has suspended public service, nor can you ride or
drive. I tell you, senora, the people are aroused. For the moment
you must accept my protection, whether you wish to or not.
Tomorrow"--Longorio smiled warmly, meaningly-"perhaps you will not
be in such haste to refuse it, or to leave La Feria. Wait until
you understand me better.
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