nt,
of the Somewhat which links us to the Someone.

* * * * *

It was now Rollo's chiefest desire to get back to the palace and find
out what had happened there during his absence. He had heard the rattle
of musketry fire again and again during the night, and he feared, as
much from the ensuing silence as from the escape of the daughter of
Munoz, that some disaster must have occurred there. He would have
started at once to reconnoitre, but Brother Teodoro, hearing of his
intention, volunteered to find out whether the gipsies had wholly
evacuated the neighbourhood.

There was a private path from the grounds of the Hermitage which led
into those of the palace. By this the Basque hastened off, and it was no
long time before he returned, carrying the news that not only was the
town clear and the gardens of the palace free from marauders, but that
Rollo's people were still in full possession of La Granja. He had even
been able to speak with one of the royal servants for an instant, a man
with whom he had some acquaintance. But this conference, the Basque
added, had been hastily interrupted by a certain old woman of a fierce
aspect, who had ordered the young man off. Nevertheless he had gained
enough information to assure him that there would now be no danger in
the whole party returning openly to the Palace of La Granja.

Accordingly Rollo set out, with Concha still wrapt in the cloak which
covered her page's dress. Rollo would gladly have carried the little
Princess, but Isabel had taken so overwhelming a fancy to Concha that
she could not be induced to quit her side for a moment. Indeed, she
declared her intention of leaving her mother and Dona Susana and
returning to Aranjuez with Concha so soon as her message should be
delivered.

Rollo whispered that the pretended page should not discourage this
sudden devotion, since in the journey that still lay before them the
willingness of the little Princess to accompany them might make all the
difference between success and failure.

The Sergeant received them at the garden door, which he had so carefully
watched all night. There was a kindlier look than usual upon his
leathern and saturnine features.

"I judge, Senor," he said, as he saluted Rollo, "that you have more to
tell me than I have to tell you."

"In any case, let me hear your story first," said Rollo; "mine can
keep!"

"In brief, then, having your authority," began the Sergean