"
"My poor little love! But why these robes, Lianor? I thought it was a
day of festival at the palace?"
"I know; but I was determined, during your absence, to keep Tonza from
paying me his odious attentions by putting on mourning. He could not
fail to see where my thoughts were. Now you have returned, I will
throw them aside, and show them it is a time of rejoicing with me.
Wait, Luiz."
With a tender smile the young lover unclasped her slender form and let
her glide swiftly away.
But not long did he wait; soon the curtains were again lifted, and
Lianor, radiant as a bright star, in trailing robes of white and gold,
diamonds flashing on her bare arms and round her delicate throat, came
towards him.
"My queen, my own dear love! what should I do if they took you from
me?" passionately pressing her hands to his lips.
"They will never do that, Luiz. I am determined not to allow Tonza to
win my father over to his way of thinking."
Manuel Tonza watched the happy lovers with bitterest hate gnawing at
his heart, deadly schemes against his fortunate rival flitting through
his subtle brain.
Late that night, when the weary guests were parting, Tonza stole
noiselessly from the palace; and when he returned, in less than half
an hour, his face wore an expression of fiendish triumph and delight.
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