ng from her stupor,
suddenly awarded him a resounding box on the ear, which so far
discomposed the calm of his demeanour that he took from his pocket a
handkerchief edged with lace, unfolded it, and with the most ineffable
gesture in the world wiped the place the lady's hand had touched. Then,
with the same abiding calm, he restored the cambric to his pocket, bowed
low to the Queen, and lounged majestically towards the door.

Maria Cristina watched him at first with a haughty and unmoved
countenance. Her hands clenched themselves close to her side, as if she
wished the blow had been bestowed with the shut rather than with the
open digits.

But as her husband (for so he really was, though the relationship was
not acknowledged till many years after, and at the feet of the Holy
Father himself in the Vatican) approached the door, opened it, and was
on the point of departing without once turning round, Cristina suddenly
broke into a half hysterical cry, ran after him, threw her arms tenderly
about his neck, and burst out weeping on his broad bosom.

The gentleman, without betraying the least emotion, patted her
tolerantly on the shoulder, and murmured some words in her ear, at the
same time looking over her head at the men of the company with a sort of
half-comic apology.

"Oh! Fernando, forgive me," she cried, "life of my life--the devil must
have possessed me! I will cut off the wicked hand that did the deed.
Give me a knife, good people--to strike the best and handsomest--oh, it
was wicked--cruel, diabolical!"

Whatever may have been the moral qualities of the royal blow, Rollo felt
that in their present circumstances time enough had been given to its
consideration, so he interposed.

"Your Majesty, the gipsies may be upon us at any moment. It would be as
well if you would summon all the servants of the palace together and arm
them with such weapons as may be available!"

Maria Cristina lifted her head from the shoulder of her Ferdinand, as if
she did not at first comprehend Rollo's speech, and was resolved to
resent an intrusion at such a moment. Whereupon the Scot repeated his
words to such good purpose that the Queen-Regent threw up her hands and
cried, "Alas! this happens most unfortunately. We have only old Eugenio
and a couple of lads in the whole palace since the departure of the
guards!"

"Never mind," said Rollo; "let us make the best of the matter. We will
muster them; perhaps they will be able to load