I swear it! Refuse me, and he hangs as surely--as surely as you and I talk together here this moment." Cold eyes scathed him with contempt.

"God!" she cried.

"What manner of monster are you, my lord?
To speak so--to speak of marriage to me, and to speak of hanging a man who is son to that same father of yours who lies above stairs, not yet turned cold.

Are you human at all ?" "Ay--and in nothing so human as in my love for you, Hortensia." She put her hands to her face.

"Give me patience!" she prayed.