“Blanca?” I answered with astonishment.  “But the woman deceived you.”

“Oh, no; that was all a foolish mistake on my part.”

“Explain yourself.”

“Listen:  Blanca adores me!”

“Oh, you think she does?  Well, go on.”

“When Blanca and I separated on the fifteenth of April, it was understood that we were to meet again on the fifteenth of May.  Shortly after I left she received a letter calling her to Madrid on urgent family business, and she did not expect me back until the fifteenth of May, so she remained in Madrid until the first.  But, as you know, I, in my impatience could not wait, and returned fifteen days before I had agreed, and not finding her at the hotel I jumped to the conclusion that she had deceived me, and I did not wait.  I have gone through two years of torment and suffering, all due to my own stupidity.”

“But she could have written you a letter.”

“She said that she had forgotten the address.”

“Ah, my poor friend,” I exclaimed, “I see that you are striving to convince yourself.  Well, so much the better.  Now, when does the marriage take place?  I suppose that after so long and dark a night the sun of matrimony will rise radiant.”

“Don’t laugh,” exclaimed Zarco; “you shall be my best man.”

“With much pleasure.”

* * * * *

Man proposes, but God disposes.  We were still seated in the library, chatting together, when there came a knock at the door.  It was about two o’clock in the morning.  The judge and I were both startled, but we could not have told why.  The servant opened the door, and a moment later a man dashed into the library so breathless from hard running that he could scarcely speak.

“Good news, judge, grand news!” he said when he recovered breath.  “We have won!”

The man was the prosecuting attorney.

“Explain yourself, my dear friend,” said the judge, motioning him to a chair.  “What remarkable occurrence could have brought you hither in such haste and at this hour of the morning?”

“We have arrested Gabriela Zahara.”

“Arrested her?” exclaimed the judge joyfully.

“Yes, sir, we have her.  One of our detectives has been following her for a month.  He has caught her, and she is now locked up in a cell of the prison.”

“Then let us go there at once!” exclaimed the judge.  “We will interrogate her to-night.  Do me the favor to notify my secretary.  Owing to the gravity of the case, you yourself must be present.  Also notify the guard who has charge of the head of Senor Romeral.  It has been my opinion from the beginning that this criminal woman would not dare deny the horrible murder when she was confronted with the evidence of her crime.  So far as you are concerned,” said the judge, turning to me, “I will appoint you assistant secretary, so that you can be present without violating the law.”