not, some of them are receiving it. That grand
gentleman, Colonel Carlos Santander--your friend by the way--told me
so."

The mention of Santander's name, but more a connection with the subject
spoken of, produced a visible effect on Luisa Valverde. Her cheek
seemed to pale and suddenly flashed red again. Well she remembered, and
vividly recalled, the old enmity between him and Don Florencio. Too
well, and a circumstance of most sinister recollection as matters stood
now. She had thought of it before; was thinking of it all the time, and
therefore the words of the Condesa started no new train of reflection.
They but intensified the fear she had already felt, for a time holding
her speechless.

Not noticing this, and without waiting a rejoinder, the other ran on,
still interrogating:

"Whom have you trusted with this delicate mission, may I ask?"

"Only Jose?"

"Well; Jose, from what I've seen of him, is worthy of the trust. That
is so far as honesty is concerned, and possibly cleverness. But, _amiga
mia_, he's only a humble servitor, and out there in Tacubaya, among the
garrison soldiers, or if it be in any of the prisons, he may experience
a little difficulty in obtaining the information you seek. Did you give
him any money to make matters easy?"

"He has my purse with him, with permission to use it as he may see
best."

"Ah! then you may safely expect his bringing back a good account, or at
all events one that will settle the question you wish to have settled.
Your purse should be a key to Don Florencio's prison--if he be inside
one anywhere in Mexico."

"Oh! I hope he is."

"Wishing your _amanti_ in a prison! That would sound strange enough, if
one didn't understand it."

"I'd give anything to know him there--all I have to be assured he still
lives."

"Likely enough you'll soon hear. When do you expect your messenger to
be back?"

"At any moment. He's been gone many hours ago. I was watching for him
when you came up--yonder on the Tacubaya Road. I see nothing of him
yet, but he may have passed while we've been talking."

"_Muy amiga mia_! How much our doings this day have been alike. I,
too, have despatched a messenger to find out all about Ruperto, and am
now awaiting his return. I ran across to tell you of it. And now that
we're together let us stay till we know the worst or the best. God help
us both; for, to make use of the phrase I've heard among _marineros_,
we're `both in