He had extended his hand impulsively but she refused to see it.
"You are not angry, senorita--I have not offended you in any way, I trust: I should never forgive myself if it were so," he said.
Perhaps the anxiety in his tone was strong--at any rate she seemed to tremble with half suppressed emotion and shrank back.
Roderic became more impressed and concerned.
"You do not speak--you _are_ offended, clown that I am to have said or done something unwittingly that has hurt your feelings. Senorita, pray pardon me--restore me to your favor, I beg."
While he was thus apologizing, for what he himself did not have the least idea, Roderic could not refrain from thoughts of an altogether different nature, and which must have run something in this vein:
"Now bless my soul if I know what to do in such a case. Ten minutes ago she left me full of spirits and as warmly disposed as one could wish--now she returns and deigns not to even accept my hand. Duse take it, women are all alike, mysteries to me. What have I done in the interim--lighted a cigar and wrapped myself up in thought. It's a good enough cigar, too," casting a dubious glance at the weed as if some vague and monstrous suspicion had arisen in his mind that the inoffensive weed might have something to do with the matter.
Then light broke in upon him--it came from her.
"I do not speak, you say--it is because I am overcome with surprise, mortification, despair--because I have learned that you have deceived me, that you are a traitor!" came from under the veil.
The figure, the walk might be that of the governor's daughter, but the voice was no other than Georgia's.
Over his face flashed a look of joy, for his heart leaped to meet its mistress.
"Georgia--is it you--I thought, I believed--"
She stopped his stammering exclamations of mingled delight and explanation.
"I do not care to hear what you would say, Senor Owen. After this day, this hour, we must meet as strangers," she said, with difficulty controlling her emotion.
"This is cruel--you cannot mean it, when I am risking my life here in your cause. You say that but to prove me, Georgia."
"I mean every word of it. Think not I have no eyes, Senor Owen--I have seen all. Doubtless your risk has been considerably ameliorated by the pleasant company you are forced to seek."