I won't have any more of it," Jones said.
Lopez looked affectionately at the young fellow, "But if I would make you
'appy...." he said.
"I don't want to be made happy at a cost so great," Gilbert affirmed.
Lucia's lovely head drooped, and she moved to the window.
"It shall be but a moment," the bandit promised. Gilbert walked to the
fireplace so that his face would not be seen. Lopez went over to Lucia.
"Senora, you do not wish to speak of love. Why?"
"I am married," was the answer.
"And because you are marry, you cannot speak of love?... Eet is strange
customs. Tell me, senora, what does your marriage service say?"
"One promises to love, honor, and obey, in sickness and in health, till
death shall part."
Lopez smiled. "All zat you promise?"
"Yes," very low.
"And yet you 'ave divorce!"
"Yes," lower still.
"So zat, after 'aving promise to love, honor, and hobey," he tapped off one
finger at a time, and looked as if he wanted to get this mysterious matter
straight in his mind, "until death, you 'ave ze right to break your word
because ze judge say you can? Is zat it?"
"Y-y-y-yes. I suppose so."
Lopez smoked a moment, looked at the ceiling, and then said, "Well, why not
break it yourself and save ze trouble!"
"It's the law," Lucia told him.
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