brother's room, she awoke him, and together they listened.

Don Mario de Castano was singing a song, the words of which were
lost, but which brought a yell of approval from his companions.
The twins distinguished the voice of Don Pablo Peza, too--Don
Pablo, whose magnificent black beard had so often excited their
admiration. Yes, and there was Col. Mendoza y Linares, doubtless
in his splendid uniform. These gentlemen were well and favorably
known to the boy and girl, yet Rosa began to whimper, and when
Esteban tried to reassure her his own voice was thin and reedy
from fright.

In the midst of their agitation they heard some one weeping; there
came a rush of feet down the hallway, and the next instant
Evangelina flung herself into the room. A summer moon flooded the
chamber with radiance and enabled her to see the two small white
figures sitting up in the middle of the bed.

Evangelina fell upon her knees before them. "Little master! Little
mistress!" she sobbed. "You will save me, won't you? We love each
other, eh? See then, what a crime this is! Say that you will save
me!" She was beside herself, and her voice was hoarse and cracked
from grief. She wrung her hands, she rocked herself from side to
side, she kissed the twins' nightgowns, tugging at them
convulsively.

The children were frightened, but they managed to quaver: "What
has happened? Who has harmed you?"

"Don Pablo Peza," wept the negress. "Your father has sold me to