dead of night! Alone! He will think it queer. Suppose, too, he
learns that you and Dona Isabel quarreled the other day over money
matters?"

Young Varona recovered himself quickly. He was watching his
inquisitor now with a faintly speculative frown. When Cueto had
finished, Esteban said:

"Dona Isabel and I frequently quarreled over money matters, so
there is nothing strange in that. You would like me to confess to
some black iniquity that would make us better friends, eh? Well,
it so happens that I was not alone to-night, but that another
person saw the poor woman's death and can bear me out in
everything I say. No, Pancho, you overreach yourself. Now then"--
Esteban was quick-tempered, and for years he had struggled against
an instinctive distrust and dislike of the plantation manager--
"remember that I have become the head of this house, and your
employer. You will do better to think of your own affairs than of
mine. Do you understand me? I have long suspected that certain
matters of yours need attention, and at the first opportunity I
intend to have a careful reckoning with you. I think you know I
have a good head for figures." Turning his back upon the elder
man, he walked away.

Now it did not occur to Cueto really to doubt the boy's innocence,
though the circumstances of Dona Isabel's death were suspicious
enough to raise a question in any mind; but in view of Esteban's
threat he thought it wise to protect himself by setting a back-
fire. It was with some such vague idea in his head that he turned
to the sunken garden as the first gray light of dawn appeared. He