after her interview with the crook-backed
dwarf.

"You must give me time to think," she said; "this boy is one of our
people--a Gitano of Baza. He is not of this place, and he tells me
strange things. He swears that the Queen and the court are plague-stayed
at La Granja by fear of the cholera. They dare not return to Madrid.
They cannot supply themselves with victuals where they are. The very
guards forsake them. And the Gitanos of the hills--but I have no right
to tell that to the foreigner--the Gorgio. For am not I also a Gitana?"

* * * * *

The village where Rollo's command first stumbled upon this dreadful fact
was called Frias, in the district of La Perla, and lies upon the eastern
spurs of the Guadarrama. It was, therefore, likely enough then that the
boy spoke truth, and that within a few miles of them the Court of Spain
was enduring privations in its aerial palace of La Granja.

But even when interrogated by El Sarria the old woman remained
obstinately silent as to the news concerning her kinsfolk which she had
heard from the crippled dwarf.

"It has nothing to do with you," she repeated; "it is a matter of the
Gitanos!"

But there came up from the bottom of the ravine, the lantern-jawed
Sergeant, long, silent, lean, parched as a Manchegan cow whose pasture
has been burnt up by a summer sun. With one beckoning finger he summoned
La Giralda apart, and she obeyed him as readily as the boy had obeyed
her. They communed a long time together, the old gipsy speaking, the
coffee-coloured Sergeant listening with his head a little to the side.

At the end of the colloquy Sergeant Cardono went directly up to Rollo
and saluted.

"Is it permitted for me to speak a word to your Excellency concerning
the objects of the expedition?" he said, with his usual deference.

"Certainly!" answered Rollo; "for me, my mission is a secret one, but I
have no instructions against listening."

The Sergeant bowed his head.

"Whatever be our mission you will find me do my duty," he said; "and
since this cursed plague may interfere with all your plans, it is well
that you should know what has befallen and what is designed. You will
pardon me for saying that it takes no great prophet to discover that our
purposes have to do with the movements of the court."

Rollo glanced at him keenly.

"Did General Cabrera reveal anything to you before your departure?" he
asked.

"Nay," said Sergeant Cardono;