HOW LOPEZ AGAIN MEETS WITH KATIE, AND HOW KATIE SHOWS NO JOY AT HER
DELIVERANCE.
Katie remained, as has been stated, in the lower room, which had been
Ashby's place of imprisonment. She was not long left alone: soon she
heard the noise of footsteps. There was nothing in this sound to
alarm her, however, and so she waited quite calmly, thinking that the
new-comer might be more friendly than the last, and that this new
turn of affairs might improve her position. The door opened, and a
man entered in the dress of an officer, while behind him there were
visible soldiers in the uniform of the Spanish army. These men
carried torches.
The first comer, also had a torch, which he held high above his head
as he stared about and peered through the gloom. At length he caught
sight of Katie, and, with a cry of joy, advanced straight toward her.
It was not until he had come close to her that Katie was able to
recognize Lopez.
"Why, Captain Lopez!" she said, in excellent Spanish; for her Spanish
connections, and life in Spain, had made her as familiar as a native
with that language. "I never was so amazed in my life. I never heard
that you were here; why haven't I seen you before?"
Lopez paused for a moment in surprise at Katie's words, and still
more at her manner.
"I've only arrived this instant," said he, "and I've come here to
save you from these brigands, and congratulate you and myself on my
good-fortune in finding you. The other ladies I cannot find. I hope,
senorita, that you have not suffered much while here a prisoner in
the hands of these ruffians?"
"Oh no," said Katie.
"This room is not fit for you," continued Lopez, "and you shall at
once be removed to a more comfortable apartment."
Such a proposal as this was by no means agreeable to Katie, who liked
the idea of the secret passage, and did not wish to go out of reach
of it.
"Oh, do not take me away from here!" said she. "I assure you I prefer
this room to any other. In fact, I am quite attached to it."
Lopez laughed.
"Really," said he, "I had no idea that a prisoner could become
attached to such a gloomy dungeon as this. Ah, senorita, you are
jesting. I assure you, however, that there are better rooms than this
in the castle, and in a few minutes you shall be taken to one. You
shall also be provided with proper attendants; for there are
women about the castle who can wait on you."
Lopez was so earnest and determined that Katie saw plainly the
uselessness of any further objections, and therefore murmured a few
civil words of thanks.
Lopez looked profoundly disappointed. He had come in the glory of a
conqueror--more, of a deliverer; to free Katie from the grasp of a
remorseless tyrant; to break in pieces her chains; to snatch her from
the jaws of death. He had expected to see her on the verge of
despair; he had fully counted on being received by her in wild and
eager excitement, almost like a messenger from Heaven. It was upon
all this that he had counted, as he had toiled to effect her rescue.
His task had been by no means light. Fortune had favored him, or else
his toil would all have been unavailing. His rescue of her in so
short a time was therefore very near the miraculous. And now as he
came to her, after all his efforts, after all this brilliant success,
with these hopes and expectations, he found his arrival greeted
in the coolest manner, and treated as the most commonplace thing in
the world. More than this, instead of finding Katie languishing in
her dungeon, he found her actually unwilling to leave it, and
pretending that she had an "attachment for it." Of course, all this
was pretence and affectation, yet still there was something
underneath which Lopez could not quite comprehend. For the present he
could only conceal his deep disappointment and vexation as best he
might, and arrange his plans for the future.
After retiring for a few minutes, he came back with a woman. This was
one of the women who had been captured, and was now allowed to remain
on condition of service, the particular service required of her being
merely attendance upon Katie.
Lopez here had a fresh disappointment. He had seen Katie's solitary
state, and thought that by bringing her an attendant he would give
her pleasure. But to Katie the presence of any attendant was
exceedingly distasteful. It was like having a spy set over her. It
was bad enough to be taken away from within reach of those secret
passages, but to be afflicted with this attendant and spy was too
much.
Lopez noticed her slight frown and her downcast look. He was
surprised once more, and more disappointed than ever.
"And now, senorita," said Lopez, "if you are quite ready, I will show
you the way to the new room, where you may stay so long as you remain
here."
"Very well, senor captain," said Katie, quietly.
"If you have any luggage, it shall be sent up to-morrow."
"Thanks, senor."
Upon this Captain Lopez went out with the torch, and Katie, with her
attendant, followed. She noticed, as she went, that there were marks
of great confusion in the castle; some men were bound, others lying
wounded, with women weeping over them; others again, in the Spanish
uniform, were lolling about, drinking and carousing.
Katie followed Lopez up-stairs, and here in the upper hall there were
the same signs as below, though the crowd of men was not so great nor
so noisy. Passing through this, they came to a third stairway, which
ran up from one side of this upper hall and led into a passage-way
higher still. Here Lopez opened a door, and, on entering, Katie saw a
room which was smaller than those below. One or two mats were on the
stone floor. There was a couch at one end covered with skins, and at
the other a large chest. The room bore marks of having been recently
occupied, and Katie thought that perhaps the occupant had been "His
Majesty."
The windows here, of which there were several, were narrow slits like
those below; and a hasty glance showed Katie that they looked down
into the court-yard. This, however, gave her no consolation. It was a
matter of indifference now where she was. Having been taken away from
the neighborhood of those friendly passageways, all other places
seemed equally objectionable. Her discontent and dejection were
evident in her face, though she made no remark.
"I am sorry," said Lopez, "deeply sorry that I have nothing better
than this room to offer; but I hope that before long we shall be able
to leave the castle."
Katie did not hope so, and, in fact, did not know whether to hope so
or not. All would depend upon circumstances. And as she did not know
how circumstances were, and was not willing to ask, she did not know
what to say now; so she simply said the very non-committal words,
"Thanks, senor."
Lopez could tell pretty well why she said no more than this. It was
because she felt dissatisfied about something in connection with her
rescue--but what that something was he could not conjecture. That was
the mystery which baffled him. However, he had sense enough to see
that his own best course was to leave her to her own devices, and not
annoy her by ill-timed questions. So he prepared to depart.
"Senorita," said he, "this woman is your attendant. If you are afraid
to be alone, she will sleep in the room with you; but, if you prefer
it, she will not."
"Oh, I should so very much prefer being left alone, Captain Lopez!"
said Katie, hurriedly.
Lopez looked surprised.
"Oh, very well," said he; "but I thought you were so timid that you
would prefer having some one."
"Oh no--thanks! I'm not at all timid," said Katie.
This was a new surprise to Lopez, who had believed Katie to be the
most timid young lady living. But he said nothing more. He merely
wished her good-night; and, having directed the attendant to leave,
he locked the door after him and went away, a deeply disappointed and
a deeply meditating man.
Katie sprang to the door, held her ear close, and listened till the
footsteps had died away. Then she hurried back. Her quick eye had
noticed the fragment of a wax-candle on the floor, in a corner. Some
matches were lying loosely about, which had evidently been used by
"His Majesty" to light the royal pipe. With one of these Katie
lighted the candle, and surveyed the apartment once more.
There was a fireplace here, deep, but not so high or large as the
others before mentioned. This Katie examined first. Alas! she saw
nothing. The chimney ran straight up, and not an opening appeared.
After this she retreated dejectedly, and examined no farther.