y, I might arrange for it to reach the Duke. At present not even
the most intimate friends are admitted, but I am in the confidence of Her
Grace's maid, who came with her from Seville. Indeed I'm now on the way to
do an errand for her."

I caught at this opening.

"I should like to send a note," I said, "but not to the Duke."

Having got so far, I took a roll of bank-notes from my pocket, as we
strolled slowly on together. A young woman so anxious to convey an
impression of her own importance, must have ambitions beyond her place in
life.

The dark face sparkled at sight of the money, and tactfully I explained
that my principal interest centred in a young guest of the Duchess's. Any
person who could take word from me to her, unknown to others, would be
well rewarded. I should not think five hundred pesetas too much, to give
for such a service.

A hint was enough. In an instant the girl became a woman of business and a
mistress of intrigue. She would not, she said, dare attempt to deliver a
note. It would be simpler, less dangerous for all concerned, to be at work
in a corridor through which the English senorita must pass; to murmur a
few words which would attract her attention; to receive a verbal message
in return; and to bring it to me when she could--not to-day; that would be
impossible; but to-morrow evening about nine, at which time she had
already permission to go out.

Should I trust her? Her face was one to inspire a man's admiration rather
than trust, but I had no alternative. If I surrendered this chance, I
should hardly find another as promising; and as I must depend upon someone
in Carmona's house, why not upon this woman? The bribe I offered was
tempting enough to keep her true, if anything could.

I hesitated no more than a moment in accepting her amendment of my
proposal, since she assured me it was impossible to make an appointment
sooner. And the message I sent Monica was cautiously worded.

The friends who had seen her last in the cathedral of Seville were anxious
to see her again, and begged that she would arrange to meet them as soon
as possible, to carry out the plan which had been interrupted.

The girl repeated these words after me, promised to remember them and give
me the answer to-morrow night at nine, in case any message were entrusted
to her. We were not to meet at the same place, however, but on the
Alhambra Hill, in the road leading up from the "Wasinton" (as she called
the hotel)