y importunate suitor, the
Senor Calderon. By the way, I wonder whatever became of them! Only to
think of their never coming near us to say good-bye! And that nothing
was seen or heard of them afterwards! Something must have happened.
What could it have been! I've tried to think, but without succeeding."

"So I the same. It is indeed very strange; though I fancy father heard
something about them, which he does not wish to make known to us. You
remember what happened after we'd left the house--those men coming to it
in the night. Father has an idea they intended taking his gold,
believing it still there. What's more, I think he half suspects that of
the four men--for there appears to have been four of them--two were no
other than our old suitors, Francisco de Lara and Faustino Calderon."

She had almost said _sweethearts_, but the word has a suggestion of
pain.

"_Maria de Merced_!" exclaims Inez. "It's frightful to think of such a
thing. We ought to be thankful to that good saint for saving us from
such villains, and glad to get away from a country where their like are
allowed to live."

"_Sobrina_, you've touched the point. The very thought that's been
distressing me is the remembrance of those men. Even since leaving San
Francisco, as before we left, I've had a strange heaviness on my heart--
a sort of boding fear--that we haven't yet seen the last of them. It
haunts me like a spectre. I can't tell why, unless it be from what I
know of De Lara. He's not the man to submit to that ignominious defeat
of which we were witnesses. Be assured he will seek to avenge it. We
expected a duel, and feared it. Likely there would have been one, but
for the sailing of the English ship. Still that won't hinder such a
desperate man as De Lara from going after Edward, and trying to kill him
any way he can. I have a fear he'll follow him--is after him now."

"What if he be? Your _fiance_ can take care of himself. And so can
mine, if Calderon should get into his silly head to go after _him_. Let
them go, so long as they don't come after us; which they're not likely--
all the way to Spain."

"I'm not so sure of that. Such as they may make their way anywhere.
Professional gamblers--as we know them to be--travel to all parts of the
world. All cities give them the same opportunity to pursue their
calling--why not Cadiz? But, Inez, there's something I haven't told
you, thinking you might make mock of it. I've h