epped up into the corridor, and advancing
along it, halted in front of their door. Seeing it open, with faces
inside, he made a sort of military salute, in a gruff voice saying:

"_Senoritas_! Carriage ready. I've orders to conduct you to it without
delay."

There was something offensive in the man's manner. He spoke with a
thick tongue, and was evidently half intoxicated. But his air showed
him in earnest.

"You'll allow us a little time--to put on our cloaks?"

The request came from the Condesa, who for a certain reason was wishful
to retard their departure as long as might be possible.

"_Carrai-i_!" drawled out the _cabo_, the same who had won the dagger
from darling Perico. "I'd allow such beautiful _doncellas_ as you any
time--all night--if 'twere only left to me. For myself, I'd far rather
stick to these snug quarters, and the company of this pretty
_muchacha_."

At which, leaning forward, with a brutish leer, he attempted to snatch a
kiss from Pepita.

The girl shrunk back, but not till she had rebuked him with an angry
retort and a slap across the cheek. It stung him to losing temper, and
without further ceremony he said spitefully--

"Come, come, I'll have no more dilly-dallying: _nos vamos_!"

There was no alternative but to obey; his attitude told them he would
insist upon it, and instantly. Time for cloaking had been a pretence on
their part. They were expecting the summons, and the wraps were close
at hand. Flinging them around their shoulders, and drawing the hoods
over their heads, they issued out upon the corridor, and turned along
it--the soldier preceding, with the air of one who conducted criminals
to execution.

A short flight of steps led down to the pavement of the court. On
reaching these, they paused and looked below. There was still a
bustling about the carriage, as if some one had just been handed into
it. Several of the soldiers were on foot around it, but the majority
were in their saddles; and of these three or four could be distinguished
as officers by the greater profusion of gold lace on their jackets and
dolmans--for they were all Hussars. One who glittered more than any,
seeing them at the head of the stair, gave his horse a prick with the
spur, and rode up. Colonel Santander it was, like all the rest somewhat
excited by drink; but still not so far gone as to forget gallantry, or
rather the pretence of it.

"Ladies," he said, with a bow and air of maudlin