t understand that kind of thing here, dear Etienne.
Remember Master Rafael, who got a knife somewhere between his
shoulder-blades in this same village."

"I shall bear in mind what you say, my good Rollo," said Etienne;
"meantime I shall dress myself afresh and walk in the gardens. They are,
as it seems to me, contiguous. Perhaps it may chance that I shall
see--_her_!"

"That leaves me a freer hand with Concha, then," murmured Rollo to
himself, as he stuck his hat on the back of his head, and strode out
into the stable yard smiling to himself.

He had his horse brought out and saddled. Then he mounted and rode down
the village street towards the convent of the pious Sisters of Mercy.
The plan he meant to adopt had entered his mind, as it were, with the
eggs and white wine. He had not given the matter a thought before. He
smiled to himself as he rode, for he wondered how he would succeed with
this good Mother Superior, and what manner of girl he would find that
wicked, tricksome Concha to be, whose name was in all men's mouths with
a certain approving flavour, as of a pleasant naughtiness to be
alternately scolded and cajoled. One thing this Master Rollo was as sure
of as that he was a Scot. And that was--he never could, would, or should
fall in love with such a girl.

So Rollo rode with a clatter of spurs and accoutrement up to the gate of
the convent. Dismounting, he advanced briskly to the gate and knocked
loudly upon it with his riding-whip.

In a few moments a sour-faced portress opened the little square wicket
and looked through at him. The diamond-shaped lattice bars, which cut
her features into minute lozenges, did not improve her good looks.

"I must see the Mother Superior immediately on important business!"
quoth the brisk youth, slapping his waistcoat and settling the hilt of
his sword in a businesslike manner, as if he had all his life been in
the habit of making early morning calls upon Mothers Superior.

The portress laughed.

"A likely story," she said, "that I am to trail across the yard and
leave my business here, to fetch the Lady Superior from her devotions to
see a young man at the outer gate."

"If you do not admit me," Rollo went on, unabashed, "not only the Lady
Superior will suffer, but the cause which all good Christians have at
heart."

He suddenly thrust his bare hand close to the wicket and showed the ring
which Etienne had given him.

"Do you know this?" he said.

At his firs