bout the contents of the Condesa's letter, their purport being
fully explained, nor did they draw apart, till a thorough understanding
had been established between them as to the action they should take.

All this without loss of time was translated to Cris Rock, who was told
also of their resolve to attempt to escape, in which the Texan was but
too glad to take part. Kearney would have stayed there, and gone back
into the Acordada, loathsome gaol though it was, sooner than leave his
old filibustering comrade behind. He could never forget the incident of
El Salado, nor cease to feel gratitude to the man who had offered to
give up life for him.

But there was no need for Rock being left behind. Rivas himself wished
it otherwise, for more than one reason; but one good one, that instead
of obstructing their escape he would be an aid to it.

The hunchback alone was not let into their secret. No doubt he too
would be glad to get free from his chains, since he was under a sentence
of imprisonment for life. But who could tell whether at the last moment
he might not purchase pardon by turning out and betraying them? They
knew him to be vile enough even for that, and so kept him in the dark
about their design.

There was no need of further premeditation or contrivance of plans.
That had all been traced out for them in the singular epistle signed
"Ysabel," and a few whispered words from one to the other completed the
understanding of it, with what was to be done. From the time this was
settled out, never looked three pair of eyes more eagerly along a street
than did theirs along the Calle de Plateros; never was a carriage more
anxiously awaited than a landau which should show itself with hood up,
drawn by a pair of grey horses.

It is now well on the afternoon, and the "beauty and fashion" of the
Mexican metropolis were beginning to appear in carriages, with chivalry
on horseback, along the line of streets leading to the Paseo Nuevo. The
procession of the morning would little affect the usual evening display;
and already several equipages had rolled past the place where the
chain-gang was at work. But as yet appeared not the one so anxiously
looked-for, and the half-hour was up!

Still ten minutes more without any sign of it!

More anxious now were the three prisoners, who contemplated escape,
though not at all to the same degree, or for the same reason. Kearney
feared there had been a failure, from betrayal by t