k.

"Who then, senorita?"

"Don Florencio."

"_Ay Dios_! Is he here? I did not know it. But where am I to find
him?"

No need to repeat the dialogue as continued. Suffice it that, before
leaving the room, Pepita received full instructions where to find Don
Florencio, and when found what she was to do and say to him.

So far all this was easy enough. More difficult the commission to be
entrusted to Jose--more dangerous too. But it was made known to him in
less than twenty minutes after; receiving his ready assent to its
execution--though it should cost him his life, as he said. One motive
for his agreeing to undergo the danger was devotion to his young
mistress; another to stand well with Pepita, who had a power over him,
and as he knew had entered upon her part with an ardent alacrity. But
there was a third stimulus to keep up his courage, should it feel like
failing--this having to do with the Condesa. Drawing out her grand gold
watch--good value for a hundred _dollores_, and holding it up before his
eyes, she said:

"That's your reward, Jose; that or its worth in money."

No need saying more. For the commission he was to execute much
preparation was to be made, in all haste too. And in all haste he set
to making it--determined to win the watch.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

THE PLAY OF EYES.

The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone had been brief and it was
yet only an early hour of the afternoon when the procession passed back
along the Calle de Plateros. The scavengers were still at work, and it
is scarcely necessary to say that two of their number were earnestly on
the lookout for a certain carriage. Sorry plight as they were in,
neither felt ashamed or reluctant to come again under those eyes, after
the expression they had observed in them. Rivas had hopes that in
another exchange of glances with the Condesa, he might see something
still further to instruct him; while Kearney, not so confident about his
interpretation of those given to himself, longed to have a second
reading of them.

Nor was he disappointed. The procession returned sooner than they
expected, the looked-for carriage still holding its place in the line;
the ladies in it, but now no officer of Hussars, nor any other, riding
alongside. Santander, an aide-de-camp as known, had likely been ordered
off on some official errand, and likely, too, his chief did not relish
seeing him so near that particular equipage. Whatever