More delicate was it, however, to preserve the balance between Santos and Gordon.

In fact it seemed that the more she sought to avoid Gordon, the more jealously did he pursue her.

It was a tangled skein of romance and intrigue that Constance was weaving.
At last all was ready.

It was the night before the departure of Santos for the south.

Constance had decided on the last interview in her own rooms where the first had been.
"I shall go ahead preparing as if to ship the things on the _Arroyo_," she said.