mona doesn't honour his house
in Seville too often with his presence, though his mother is here every
season, and his arrival will be the talk of the club. I can take steps
too, about a box for the show. I won't keep you long; but you'd better
wait at the Cafe Perla. Pilar can't go there without me. Oh, you may
smile; but remember we're in Spain. She must wait at the house of a
friend."

The Cherub's idea of a "little while" and a "long while" were always
rather vague, and apt to dovetail confusingly one into another; but
knowing what it was his aim to accomplish, I did not grudge the fifty
minutes before his ample form and smiling face appeared in the doorway of
the cafe.

"It's all right," were his first words. "I felt my luck wouldn't desert
me. Who do you suppose"--and he turned to Pilar, who had come on with
him--"was the first man I ran across? No other than Don Esteban Villaroya."

Pilar looked a little frightened. "But he's a friend of the Duke's. Won't
that make it awkward?"

"No; all the better. I told him Cristobal and my daughter and I had
motored from Burgos with an American friend, an important writer for the
papers, who was going to pay us a visit. Not an untrue word to trouble my
confessor with. Don Esteban may or may not mention our meeting to Carmona
when he dines with him this evening."

"Dines with him? Oh, I hope that won't make mischief."

"It won't. Carmona arrived late last night, with his mother and guests. It
seems preparations have been going on in the house for the past fortnight;
and the first thing Carmona and his mother did was to send out half a
dozen invitations for dinner this evening. Afterwards, he managed,
probably through royal influence, to get permission from the Governor to
take the party into the Alcazar by moonlight, and he's going to have
coloured illuminations, music, and Spanish dances given by professionals
in the costumes of different provinces. A grand idea, Don Esteban thinks."

"But why is he doing it?" asked Pilar, thoughtfully. "Maria purisima! It
isn't as if he were an impulsive or hospitable man, fond of getting up
impromptu entertainments. This is done in a hurry. What can be his object?
for he always has an object."

"To amuse Lady Monica, who's not pleased with him so far," explained the
Cherub. "And as he's a good Catholic, at least in appearance, to-night or
the night after will be his last chance to entertain till _Semana Santa_
is over."

"Somehow,