f the corners of his
eyes, went on in a low voice:

"Let us drop this and come to business. You hid it, and you know where
it is, and I am in need of a competence for my old age. Now, I am not a
cruel man; I wish to put no one to pain or death; moreover, I tell you
frankly, I admire both of you very much. The escape with the treasure on
board of your boat _Swallow_, and the blowing up, were both exceedingly
well managed, with but one mistake which you, young sir, have pointed
out," and he bowed and smiled. "The fight that you made yesterday, too,
was splendid, and I have entered the details of it in my own private
diary, because they ought not to be forgotten."

Now it was Foy's turn to bow, while even on Martin's grim and impassive
countenance flickered a faint smile.

"Naturally," went on Ramiro, "I wish to save such men, I wish you to go
hence quite free and unharmed," and he paused.

"How can we after we have been condemned to death?" asked Foy.

"Well, it does not seem so difficult. My friend, the tailor--I mean the
Inquisitor--who, for all his soft words, _is_ a cruel man indeed, was in
a hurry to be gone, and--he signed a blank warrant, always an incautious
thing to do. Well, a judge can acquit as well as condemn, and this
one--is no exception. What is there to prevent me filling this paper in
with an order for your release?"

"And what is there to show us that you would release us after all?"
asked Foy.

"Upon the honour of a gentleman," answered Ramiro laying his hand on
his heart. "Tell me what I want to know, give me a week to make certain
necessary arrangements, and so soon as I am back you shall both of you
be freed."

"Doubtless," said Foy, angrily, "upon such honour as gentlemen learn in
the galleys, Senor Ramiro--I beg your pardon, Count Juan de Montalvo."

Ramiro's face grew crimson to the hair.

"Sir," he said, "were I a different sort of man, for those words you
should die in a fashion from which even the boldest might shrink. But
you are young and inexperienced, so I will overlook them. Now this
bargaining must come to a head. Which will you have, life and safety, or
the chance--which under the circumstances is no chance at all--that one
day, not you, of course, but somebody interested in it, may recover a
hoard of money and jewels?"

Then Martin spoke for the first time, very slowly and respectfully.

"Worshipful sir," he said, "we cannot tell you where the money is
because we do not