You
say I am free, and yet you coerce me. Prove your love. Let me go--"
"No! No! I shall call the priest."
Longorio turned toward the door, but halfway across the floor he
was halted by a woman's shriek which issued from somewhere inside
the house. It was repeated. There was an outburst in a masculine
voice, then the patter of footsteps approaching down the tiled
hallway. Dolores burst into her mistress's presence, her face
blanched, her hair disordered. She flung herself into Alaire's
arms, crying:
"Senora! Save me! God's curse on the ruffian. Oh--"
"Dolores!" Alaire exclaimed. "What has happened?"
Longorio demanded, irritably: "Yes. Why are you yelling like
this:"'
"A man--See I One of those dirty peladors. Look where he tore my
dress! I warned him, but he was like a tiger. Benito will kill me
when he learns--"
"Calm yourself. Speak sensibly. Tell me what happened."
"One of those miserable soldiers who came today--pig!" Dolores was
shaking, her voice was shrill. "He followed me. He has been
drinking. He followed me about like a cat, purring and grinning
and saying the most horrible things. Just now, when I went to your
room, he was waiting in the darkness and he seized me.
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