It could not be the paralysis of personal fear: the balcony was wide; she could easily pass to the end; she could even see his open window.
"Why did I do this?
Because I loved you, senora--and you knew it! Ah! you can turn your face away now; you can pretend to misunderstand me, as you did a moment ago; you can part from me now like a mere acquaintance--but it was not always so! No, it was YOU who brought me here; your eyes that smiled into mine--and drove home the colonel's request that I and my sister should accompany you.

God! I was weak then! You smile, senora; you think you have succeeded--you and your pompous colonel and your clever governor! You think you have compromised me, and perjured ME, because of this.

You are wrong! You think I dare not speak to this puppet of a baron, and that I have no proofs.

You are wrong!" "And even if you can produce them, what care I ?" said Yerba unexpectedly, yet in a voice so free from excitement and passion that the weariness which Paul had at first noticed seemed to be the only dominant tone.

"Suppose you prove that I am not an Arguello.