was up, and I saw
how the conduit ran underneath and supplied the fountain. That was
instructive. Opposite this place of Molina's is a mill. I found out how
the miller got his water, and that after it turned his wheel, it poured in
this direction, being turned off every night about nine. At the miller's
the conduit is open, only guarded by a rail; and I developed a taste for
making sketches and taking photographs--tourist in search of the
picturesque; miller got used to seeing me about, while I made myself
familiar with the landscape. Then I bought a crowbar and a little electric
lamp. The bar I hid under my coat; and when I was ready to shed the
garment, Ropes put it on. I guess it was a looser fit for him than that
conduit was for me, and there were twelve feet of conduit; good long
strait-jacket, but I've been in it a lot of times now, and feel quite at
home. You see, the job couldn't be done in one go, for I had to make the
hole under the fountain bigger, and I've been tinkering away for nearly a
week, o' nights when the water was stopped. And if I'd come up at last,
like a demon in a pantomime, to find I'd had my trouble for my pains, I
can't say what I should have turned my wits to next."

"Does Pilar know?" I asked.

"She and the Colonel went off in a hurry to Madrid just before I took the
job on. They thought they could influence the police at headquarters,
which was their principal reason for going; though they had one or two
others besides. But see here, you've got the story pat now, and you're
looking a thousand per cent. more healthy than when you sat down at this
table ten minutes ago. Poor old Ropes, who always hangs about keeping
guard, will be mighty glad to see you; but before we open the door and
walk out as if we owned the house, let's have a look round. There may be
something which will give me a chance to say 'I told you so!' to the
police."

Refreshed with wine, and such scanty rations as Dick had allowed, I walked
steadily enough into the adjoining room, while Dick carried a lamp. There
were no such gorgeous decorations here, as in the suite I had reluctantly
occupied. A modern bed stood in one corner. There were shelves on the
wall, fitted with glass doors which protected jars and bottles. On a large
table lay an outfit for chemical experiments, and on another some yellow
flowers half buried in green leaves. In the window was a modern desk, and
Dick at once began to rummage among the few papers