htly at the question.

"I do not know," he said simply, "I have not tried. The most ordinary
affairs turn out adventurous with me. But then, I would rather undergo
any conceivable hardship than live on in one place like a beetle pinned
to a card, able only to waggle my feet, till a merciful death put a
limit to my sufferings."

Further conversation was cut short by the entrance of the Queen-Regent.
Her husband conducted her to the door or rather _portiere_ curtain of
the council-room, and immediately withdrew--a slight waving of the
tapestry, however, affording some reasons for suspecting that his
Excellency the Duke of Rianzares had not removed himself the entire
distance required by etiquette from the councils of his Sovereign.

Maria Cristina extended first to Mendizabal and then to Rollo a plump
hand to kiss.

"I have to thank you," she said to the latter, not ungraciously, "for
the many and great services you have rendered to me, my
daughter--and--to other friends also. The result has certainly been most
fortunate, though the manner of service at times left something to be
desired!"

Then as Rollo kept his head modestly lowered, the Queen-Regent relented
a little, thinking him covered with confusion at her severity, which
indeed was far from being his real state of mind.

"But after all you are a brave man, of excellent parts, and personable
to a degree----"

"Which in this age and country goes for no little!" said Mendizabal,
bowing to the Queen as if he intended a compliment. "You have heard how
our soldiers chant as they go into battle:

"'_Old Carlos is a crusty churl,
But Isabel's a sweet young girl!_'"

The Queen bowed, with however a little frown upon her face. She was
never quite sure whether her Prime Minister was laughing at her or not.
Then she returned to the subject of Rollo.

"You have some employment of a sort suited to the taste of this
adventurous young man?" she went on. "I understand and sympathise with
his desire not to return to the wars in the North."

"There is the little matter of the suppression of the monasteries,"
returned Mendizabal, "to take effect (as your Majesty doubtless
remembers) on the twentieth of the month. It is already the sixth. There
may be some slight trouble where the orders are strong. I propose that
we send this distinguished young Scottish soldier (whose noble father I
had the honour of knowing somewhat intimately) to Valencia or the
Baleares wit