an old friend, all is different; everyone welcomed the Cherub and the
senorita; for their sakes everyone welcomed Dick and me. I was vaguely
introduced as a relative--no name given; no name, in the flurry of
greeting, asked; for Spain is not like France or Germany, where the first
thing to do is to write down all particulars about yourself on a piece of
paper.

Ropes drove the car off to a garage, and we were shown to rooms which made
us realize that we had left the provinces behind and come into the
capital.

"Thank goodness I shall have a pillow to sleep on to-night," said Dick,
"instead of doing the carved-knight-on-a-marble-tomb act. I looked
particularly at the two neat, rounded blocks those chaps in Burgos
Cathedral had to rest their heads on, and the alleged pillows on my bed
were an exact copy, hardness and all."

"I like them hard," said I.

"That's right! Stand up for Spanish institutions."

"There's one anyhow I don't think you'd run down," I remarked.

"Which one?"

"Spanish girls."

We dined in great spirits that evening, in the big scarlet and gold
restaurant; and in rich, red Marques de Riscal Dick drank confusion to the
Duque de Carmona. The Cherub had told us where Carmona's flat was
situated, saying that his car would perhaps be kept under the same roof
with his carriage and the state coach.

The company was interesting to watch. Leoncavallo had as a guest the
famous ex-bull-fighter Mazzantini; a Russian prince entertained several
beauties of the Opera; and there were two or three politicians greatly in
the public eye. We were hungry; the dinner was good; there was much to
talk over; and all seemed to be going well.

But about half-past ten, when Pilar had gone, and the Cherub was having a
"yarn" and a cigar in the sitting-room of our suite; Ropes appeared,
looking serious.

"Something bad has happened, sir; and I blame myself," said he.

"Something wrong with the car," I asked quickly.

"Something _out_ of the car, sir," he amended. "The main shaft of the
change-speed gear."

"Impossible!" said I. "A car can't go along dropping her gearing, as a
woman drops her purse!"

"No, sir. But she can, so to speak, have her pocket picked. After all
that's come and gone, I ought to have kept my eyes open."

"Out with it, my good chap," said I; "don't try to break it to us."

"It's the car that's broken into, sir. I found the garage all right, left
her safe and sound, came back here, but a