s in Madrid; so when
this chap comes to himself he can try how he likes your quarters. They
seem rather nice ones, judging from what I can see; but Carmona always
does himself well."

"Is this Carmona's house?" I asked.

"You bet it is. Little private sort of place he keeps ready when he wants
to amuse himself in some way which his mother and Monica and other people
mightn't approve of in Dukes. This old Johnny's a combination of caretaker
and physician in ordinary to his grace. But let's get out of this. I can't
give you a marble bath or Moorish decorations at my hotel, but I shouldn't
wonder if you'd prefer the accommodation; and after that conduit business
I need a 'wash and brush up' as much as you do. Why, old man, what's the
matter? Not going to crack up, are you?"

"I'm all right," I said; "but I haven't had anything to eat since the day
after I saw you off, except milk, and none of that for the last two days."

"Great Scott! you're joking. We parted five weeks ago!"

The words gave me a shock in spite of the stubble on my chin and the
whiteness of my hands. Dick had his wet arm round my shoulders, and we
were at the door, which he was about to lock, and I startled him by caving
in a little at the knees.

"See here," he said, hanging on to my arm as if he were afraid I should
vanish in thin air, "we won't wait to dine at my hotel. We'll nose round a
bit in this old Johnny's larder. You must be bucked up before you go out
into the street. Oh, it's safe enough. The old brute's a hermit--for his
own reasons or Carmona's. Nobody comes near the house, and we can take our
own time. While you're eating you shall hear everything I've got to tell."

He locked and bolted the door, and helped me down the stairs, up which I
must have been carried unconscious; perhaps by the gypsy, assisted by the
master of the house.

Below stairs the place was dark save for the light which had streamed out
into the _patio_ with the opening door. It came from a good-sized room
evidently intended for a kitchen, but also used by the solitary tenant as
a dining-room. It had a window opening on the court; this, however, was
not only covered with heavy shutters, but protected by a curtain as well,
and ventilation came through an adjoining room from a window that looked
on another small court.

Evidently my gaoler had been interrupted in the midst of his supper, and
hearing a noise in the _patio_ had stopped only long enough to snatch up