much too gentle to kill any one!" the woman cried, passionately.

Her prayers and supplications were unavailing. Henrique was obliged to
do his duty, and bade his men take the suffering man to prison.

Some hours later, as Diniz stood in his room, just before setting out
in search of Henrique, that man entered the house, followed by several
soldiers.

"Diniz Sampayo, I arrest you on the charge of having stolen a
poignard, set with jewels, from Manuel Tonza de Sepulveda."

Diniz started, and flushed angrily.

"I steal? When you know it is the weapon I bought from Phenee, the
Jew, as proof against the murderer."

"So you said; but we have heard another tale to that. Anyhow, if you
are innocent, you will be set free as soon as you are tried."

"But the man Jarima? Have you not been for him?"

"Yes, but he is useless; when we arrived, some one had been before us,
and not only blinded him, but cut out his tongue, so that he could not
speak."

"How horrible! How could any one have been so cold-blooded?" Diniz
gasped, turning pale.

"Evidently it was done for some purpose. But come, Sampayo, I cannot