nscience of yours! But first kiss her Majesty's royal
hand. Let no one spoil your beauty, and return betimes to the post which
we will keep open for you!"

Rollo did as he was bidden. He kissed the hand of the Queen, who was
graciously pleased to give his fingers a slight pressure as hers rested
a moment in his. For the handsome face and high bearing of Rollo Blair
had been working their usual way with Maria Cristina.

The Prime Minister, noting a slight movement of the _portiere_ curtains,
bustled Rollo off lest he should lose his favour with the Power Behind
the Throne. But, pausing a moment at the door, he whispered in his
ear--"Have you any objection to telling me the name of the person from
whom you had this commission? I promise you upon my sacred honour that
you shall have no cause to repent your frankness. Neither you nor he
shall suffer on account of my knowledge--no, not if it were Don Carlos
himself."

"His name is Don Baltasar Varela, Prior of the Abbey of Montblanch!"
said Rollo, after a moment's hesitation.

"I understand," said Mendizabal, with an inscrutable expression.
"Nevertheless, I will keep my word."

CHAPTER XLVIII

A POINT OF HONOUR

There remained Concha to be dealt with. Ah, yes, and also his companions
El Sarria, Mortimer, and Etienne. Only--they did not count. What man
does count when the one woman is in the question? Friends of a lifetime
are skipped like the historical introduction of an exciting romance,
through whose pages battle, murder, and sudden death play gaily at
leap-frog and devil-take-the-hindmost.

Yes, Rollo owned it, Concha mattered. There was no blinking the fact. It
would be bitter almost as death for him to tell her that he must once
more leave her to take his life in his hand, upon a mere point of
honour. She might not understand. Like his friends she might denounce
his purpose as arrant quixotry and folly. Well, that would certainly
make it harder--but even then he would carry it through.

He found them seated in the lodgings which Rollo had secured for Concha
and La Giralda in a house that looked upon the Puerta del Sol. Opposite,
but upon the same staircase and landing, lodged El Sarria, who, if it
would have given any pleasure to Rollo, would have slept all night
outside his sweetheart's door.

Etienne, Mortimer, and Rollo himself had rooms on the other side of the
great square. But upon Rollo's return all were now assembled in Concha's
sitting-roo