"I think not; it is a good chance to watch the gentleman. If I were sure that old woman meant her hate for him--"
He stared at Polonia a moment, and then nodded his head.
"I'll take the chance," he decided, and went alone to her and pulled the cover entirely from her face.
"Friend of a daughter of many kings," he said, slowly.
She stared at him, and stumbled to her feet in salutation.
"It is true, my father, but the kings of the hills are dead; and now," pointing toward Raquel, "there will be no more in the land."
"Who knows?" said the strange padre. "There still lives a daughter; guard her better than you did her mother when I carried love messages from Estevan."
"Ai! I know you now. You have become padre, and you guard her from the heretics--the heretics, father," and she pointed toward the veranda where Don Enrico and his guest could be heard in conversation. "That accursed Americano--"
"Sh--h! quiet, you!" and he placed a hand on her arm authoritatively; "make no noise, say no words, but watch him all the time--every time when I am out of sight. Understand?"
She glanced from the padre to Ana, who nodded her head, and at once the dark old face was illuminated; at last she was not alone in this strange land! Others were here who hated the Americano, and that made them her kindred. She caught the hand of the padre and pressed it to her forehead.
"I watch always," she promised, fervently; and to herself she thought, "After all, we get him killed some way, if the padre, who was a soldier, helps."
They left her in her chosen place, crouched in the hall just outside the door of Raquel, content at last that she was not alone in her hatred of the man whom she blamed for the weary hours of wretchedness lived through by her mistress.
Ana showed the padre to the room set aside always for the use of such priests as travelled from San Gabriel to San Juan. They were not so many of late years, but in this house they were always honored guests, no matter what their order, or land, or language.
"I am afraid--afraid!" said Ana, as she opened the door; "if some one should come who knows--"
"No one will," he said, reassuringly, "and this may be a good chance to learn much. Go, help your aunt, and forget to fear."