h vice-regal powers. We have great need of such men at such
a time."

Rollo gasped and bowed his head. The crimson rose to his cheek. To be a
Governor with almost regal powers and soldiers at his beck, to hold a
turbulent province quiet under his hand! How he wished there were no
such thing as "honour" anywhere, keeping him by mere iteration and
irritancy to the resolution his conscience had extorted from him.

Mendizabal thought the young man only doubtful of his capacity, and
patted him on the shoulder with fatherly tolerance and encouragement.

"You will do very well," he said kindly, "we will give you a free hand,
full powers, and as many soldiers as you want. Besides, the Carlists
have been some while in these regions, and we have not been able to get
our own men. Now you can look them up!"

Then Rollo, suddenly finding words, spoke his mind fully and freely.

"I cannot go," he said; "at least, not till I have fulfilled a sacred
duty which lies heavily upon me. I took up a charge. I have not
fulfilled it. I cannot serve the Queen-Regent till I have laid down that
which I undertook, and to the person who charged me with the mission!"

The Queen stared at the bold young man, but the Prime Minister
understood better.

"It is his point of honour," he explained to Maria Cristina; "those of
his nation cannot help it. It is in the blood and in the gloomy creed
which they profess--a sour and inconvenient religion in which there is
no confession."

"No confession!" cried the Queen, casting up her hands in horror, "no
absolution! How then can they go on living from day to day?"

"Much like other people," said the Premier, smiling; "they repent, and
then--repent of their repentances!"

"And is this young man not a Christian?" cried the Queen. "Is he also of
this dark and gloomy superstition--what was it that you called the
heresy?"

"I am indeed a Presbyterian," said Rollo, smiling; "at least, my father
was, and I also when any one contradicts me. For the rest I am, I fear,
but an indifferent Christian!"

"Ah," murmured the Queen with a reflective sigh, "then even heretics may
have their uses. In that case it will be easier for you to oppress--I
mean to argue with and convince the holy friars of the righteous
intentions of the government with regard to them!"

"Well," said Mendizabal, quickly, desirous of diverting the conversation
from a dangerous subject, "off with you, sirrah! Go satisfy that
Calvinistic co