"Why, Nell, old girl," he continued, familiarly, "this is a pretty reception to give your husband. I'm not a ghost; don't be afraid of me."
"Wretch!" she cried, trembling with fear and excitement. "How dare you come here? Go at once, or I shall call for help."
"No, you won't. I'm not afraid. Come, you can get rid of me in a minute. The truth is, I'm d----d hard up; got into two or three little unpleasantnesses, and got out only by a scratch. I want to get away from here--it's unhealthy here for me--but I've got no money. Saw you down town with that pompous Greaser the other day; know him well; he's got lots of money; and I thought that, for love and affection, as they say in the law, and in consideration of our former relations, you might help me to some of his spare coin."
"You miserable man," she cried, beside herself, "is it not enough that you blasted my life's happiness? Must I be dragged down to the very lowest degradation with you? Oh, Charlie," she added, in changed, softened tones, "what would your mother say to all this?"
"And my daddy the parson," he laughed, hoarsely. "Yes, we know all that. But here, Nell," he went on, while a last glimmer of shame or contrition passed over his once handsome face, "I don't want to hurt you, my girl; you've always been a trump, by G----; I am willing you should become the respected wife of Don Pedro Lopez, but I must have money, or money's worth. That cluster-diamond on your finger; tell the Greaser you lost it. Or pull out your purse; I know it is full."
"Nothing," she said, slowly and determinedly, "nothing shall you have from me--a woman you have so wronged and deceived--"
"Stop, Nell; I haven't time to wait for a sermon. Give me what you've got-- Oh, here's h---- to pay and no pitch hot," he interrupted himself; "there's the Don, and he's heard it all."
He spoke true; Don Pedro stood beside them, frozen into a statue. At last he breathed.
"Yes, heard all. And I would have made you my wife--you a divorced woman. Oh, Santa Maria! She divorced of such a man--for I know you, Randal," he continued, lashing himself into a fury--"horse-thief, stage-robber, gambler. It was you who killed my friend Mariano Anzar after robbing him at cards--murderer! You shall not escape me as you escaped the officers of the law. _Hombres!_ catch the murderer!" he shouted towards the house, as he made a dart at the man, who turned at bay, but halted when he saw that the Don was not armed.
