reat gates near the _Colegiata_ they
discovered a ladder left somewhat carelessly against a wall where
whitewashing had been going on during the day, some ardent royal
tradesman having ventured back, preferring the chance of the plague to
the abandonment of his contract.

This they at once appropriated, and Rollo and the Sergeant, being the
two most agile of the company, prepared to mount.

If the time had been less critical, and a disinterested observer had
been available, it would at this moment have been interesting to observe
the demeanour of Concha. Feeling that in a manner she was present on
sufferance, she could not of course make any objection to the plan of
escalade, nor could she offer to accompany Rollo and the Sergeant, but
with clasped hands and tightly compressed lips she stood beneath,
repeating under her breath quick-succeeding prayers for the safety of
one (or both) of the adventurers.

So patent and eager was her anxiety even in the gloom of the night that
La Giralda, to whom her agitation was manifest, laid her hand on the
girl's arm and whispered in her ear that she must be brave, a true
Andaluse, and not compromise the expedition by any spoken word.

Concha turned indignantly upon her, shaking off her restraining hand as
she did so.

"Do you think I am a fool?" she whispered. "I will do nothing to spoil
their chances. But oh, Giralda, at any moment he might be shot!"

"Trust Jose Maria. He hath taken risks far greater than this," said La
Giralda in a low voice, wilfully mistaking her meaning. But Concha,
quite unconsoled, did nothing but clasp her hands and quicken her
supplications to the Virgin.

The ladder was reared against the gilded iron railing and Rollo mounted,
immediately dropping lightly down on the further side. The Sergeant
followed, and presently both were on the ground. At a word from Rollo,
El Sarria pushed the ladder over and the two received it and laid it
along the parapet in a place where it would remain completely hidden
till wanted.

The two moved off together in the direction of the porter's lodge, at
the door of which the Sergeant knocked lightly, and then, obtaining no
answer, with more vehemence. A window was lifted and a frightened voice
asked who came there at that time of night.

The Sergeant answered with some sharpness that they wished for the key
of the great gate.

Upon this the same old woman who had ushered out La Giralda appeared
trembling at the latt