e looked at each other for a moment, then Dick said--

"All right. Come on. I know what you feel. But what about that old
reprobate upstairs?"

"I'll wait for you here while you take up some food and leave it in the
room. We can't waste time in Granada on his account. I'll tell my story,
and you can tell yours to the police in Madrid, after I--after I've done
what I'm going there to do."

"How long a drive is it?" Dick asked resignedly.

"It's about two hundred and seventy miles. If we can start by one or two,
bar accidents we ought to be in Madrid by noon."

"The royal bull-fight's to-morrow," answered Dick. "Although the wedding's
next day, and the invitations have been out a fortnight, Carmona and Lady
Monica are bound to be there, as it's a royal invitation show; that means
a command."

"Very well," said I. "Since it may be as difficult to reach her in Madrid
as in Seville and Granada, I shall wait outside the entrance to the
bull-ring, and as she's about to go in, she shall see me and hear the
whole truth. Don't look as if you thought it would do no good, Dick; if
she's promised to marry Carmona in spite of all, it's because he has made
her think he can ruin me if she refuses. Pilar's instinct is right, I
know; and now for the first time I understand why Carmona didn't denounce
me to the police as Casa Triana, when Monica refused to keep her
engagement with him, as I'm sure she did. No doubt he told her lies--that I
could be imprisoned--for years, perhaps. And his wounded hand--what an
opportunity for him! Ah! he wouldn't waste it. He'd make her believe I
stabbed him in the cathedral that night. How plausible! And as he's been
very ill, can't you imagine what her fears for me must have been? Dick, I
regard her coming marriage as a proof of love, not of indifference."

"I'm ready to agree with you," said Dick. "But you're risking your life to
prove it."

"Nonsense," I answered. "The thought that I'm free, that I'm going to her,
and that at last I have Carmona in my hand, will give me strength enough
to get through."

Dick raised his eyebrows, but did not answer. He was collecting bread and
meat on a plate, to leave for the man upstairs.

Five minutes later we were out of the house and in the street. In front of
the miller's premises Ropes was walking up and down. He did not say much
when he saw that Dick had a companion; but as he wrung the hand I held out
to him, I heard him breathing hard, and he swore