h strewed the polished floor and awaited
orders. But Sergeant Cardono, unconditioned by any such fine scruples,
regarded with undisguised contempt mingled with pity the gold and ivory
fittings of the ducal dressing-table, the plated lamps, the gilt
candelabra, the Dresden china shepherdesses holding out ash-trays, and
all the varied elegancies which the affection and gratitude of a Queen
had provided for the tobacco-seller of Torrejon de Ardoz, who, like our
own Shakespeare, was said to have held many a steed outside his father's
door for a meagre dole of pence. For thus by merit, diverse in kind it
is true, do the really great soar above the insignificance of their
birth.

Thus in a straining silence, acute almost to breaking point, they
waited. Yet something of the epic's argument came to them even at that
distance--a shrill woman's voice vehemently debating, then a bass mutter
of masculine argument, a quick stamp, distinctly feminine, upon the
floor, then the slamming of a door, and on the back of that the sound of
returning footsteps.

"The Queen refuses to receive you, I am sorry to inform you, gentlemen,"
said the Duke. "That I did my best this lady will bear me witness. But
having had no opportunity of private conference with her Majesty, I was
unable (as indeed I anticipated) to effect anything."

Rollo turned to Concha without wasting words on his former ambassador.

"Return to the Queen's chamber," he said, "and inform her Majesty that
we will wait her pleasure here for other ten minutes. And if by the end
of that time we are not honoured with a visit from her Majesty, we shall
(most reluctantly and with all respect) be compelled to shoot Senor
Fernando Munoz, whose person we hold as a hostage for her Majesty's
complaisance in the affair we have undertaken. We can waste no more
time."

Concha's lips became more rigid than ever. They looked as if they never
would, should, or could be kissed. Juno herself, passing sentence upon
the object of great Jove's latest admiration, could not have appeared
more inflexibly stern.

But she only saluted, turned on her heel like a drill-sergeant, and
marched out by the side door.

In these trying circumstances the Duke of Rianzares displayed an
unexpected and wholly admirable calm. He leaned against the mantelpiece,
glanced once at the ormolu timepiece with the address of a Paris maker
below the winding-holes, and fell again to fingering his unshaven chin.
He then tu