o aided Philippon and his Frenchman to keep us out."

"Every Spaniard is not traitor or coward," said L'Isle from
behind. "If the brave Governor Menacho had not been killed in
defending the place, his successor Imaz could not have sold it a few
days after to the French."

As they strolled along the ramparts, Don Alonso, with a strange
forgetfulness of events within the year, lauded the impregnable
strength of the works, as if Badajoz were still a virgin fortress.
Cranfield, by way of rebuking him, pointed out to Lady Mabel the
restorations he had made of the breached walls. She replied that "the
patchwork character of his repairs were but too evident, as he had
invariably omitted to use materials of the same color with the
original works."

As they rambled through the city, Don Alonso failed not to point out
the superior size and style of the buildings over those of Elvas, and
Lady Mabel remarked that "in cleanliness, too, it far surpassed its
neighbor." Leading them to the cathedral, their guide compelled them
to inspect minutely this heavy and cumberous building, while he
eulogized it in terms that might have been suitable to St. Peter's, at
Rome. "I am sorry," said he, "you cannot see it in all its splendor;
but the gorgeous furniture of the altar and the rich ornaments of the
shrines are not now exhibited."

"Why not?" asked Lady Mabel.

"In these troubled, sacrilegious times, the clergy think it best not
to display the wealth of the church."

"They would find it difficult to display any thing but tinsel," said
Cranfield. "It is two years since the golden crucifix, the silver
candlestick, and the saintly jewelry, mounted on horseback and
traveled into France."

"But the saints," said L'Isle, "knowing that the air of France would
not agree with them, wisely staid behind."

As they were coming out of the cathedral, Mrs. Shortridge asked L'Isle
the meaning of the words on a tablet near them: "_Oy se sacca
animas_."

"They give us notice," said L'Isle, "that to-day souls are released
from Purgatory. But surely the notice is incomplete, not specifying
whose souls they are. Their friends may go on spending money in masses
for them after they are in Paradise."

"That would be throwing away their cash," said Mrs. Shortridge. "I
have known good folks in London exercise their charity by releasing
small debtors from prison. But their bounty bears little fruit,
compared with that of the Papist, who, by opening his