Esteban shrugged. "Who knows? There'll be time enough when--"

"What of Rosa?"

At this question the brother stirred uneasily and dropped his
eyes. O'Reilly laid a hand upon his arm. "You have no right to
jeopardize her safety. Without you, to whom could she turn?" The
girl flashed her admirer a grateful glance.

"Senor, you for one would see that she--"

"But--I'm going away." O'Reilly felt rather than saw Rosa start,
for his face was averted. Purposely he kept his gaze upon Esteban,
for he didn't wish to see the slow pallor that rose in the girl's
cheeks, the look of pain that crept into her eyes. "I came here to
tell you both good-by. I may be gone for some time. I--I don't
know when I can get back."

"I'm sorry," Esteban told him, with genuine regret. "We have grown
very fond of you. You will leave many friends here in Matanzas,
I'm sure. But you will come back before long, eh?"

"Yes, as soon as I can. That is, if--" He did not finish the
sentence.

"Good. You're one of us. In the mean time I'll remember what you
say, and at least I'll be careful." By no means wanting in tact,
Esteban rose briskly and, after shaking hands with O'Reilly, left
the two lovers to say farewell as best suited them.