ell, your ladyships, I'm sorry you don't recognise me; the more from
my being one of your best friends, or, at all events, the friend of your
friends."

"Of whom do you speak, sir?" asked the Countess, first to recover
composure, the Dona Luisa echoing the interrogatory. Both were alike
anxious for the answer, better than half divining.

"Two worthy gentlemen, who, like my poor self, had the misfortune to get
shut up in the Acordada; more than that, set to work in the filthy
sewers. Thanks to the luck of your ladyship's carriage coming past at a
convenient time we all escaped; and so far have been successful in
eluding the search that's been made for us."

"You have succeeded--all?" both asked in a breath their eagerness
throwing aside reserve.

"Oh yes; as I've said, so far. But it's been hard times with us in our
hiding-place; so hard, indeed, we might well have wished ourselves back
in the prison."

"How so, sir? Tell us all! You needn't fear to speak out; we'll not
betray you."

"_Por Dios_! I'm not afraid of your ladyships doing that. Why should
I, since I'm here on account of your own friends, and on an errand of
mercy?"

"An errand of mercy?"

"Yes. And one of necessity as well. Ah! that far more."

"Go on, sir! Please tell us what it is!"

"Well, Senoritas, I've been deputed on a foraging expedition. For we're
in a terrible strait--all four of us. You may remember there were
four."

"We do. But, how in a terrible strait?"

"How? Why, for want of food; starving. Up in the mountains, where
we've been hiding for now nearly a month, all we've had to live upon was
wild fruits and roots; often eating them raw, too. We daren't any of us
venture down, as the roads all round have been beset by spies and
soldiers. It's only in sheer desperation I've stolen through them; the
Senor Don Ruperto sending me to San Augustin in the hope I might be able
to pick up some provisions. I was just slipping the village the back
way, when an alguazil coming along made it necessary for me to climb up
here and hide myself. The unlucky part of it all is, that even if I get
safe in, I haven't the wherewith to buy the eatables, and must beg them.
That I fear won't be easy; people are so hard-hearted."

For a time his surprised listeners stood silent, giving way to sad
reflections. Florencio and Ruperto starving!

"May I hope," continued the lying wretch, "your ladyships will let me
look upon this acciden