ght have guessed it. I am
glad you are not French--_very_ glad. Do me the honour to consider my
house and everything it contains as your own. You have met with some
serious misfortune, I grieve to see; but if you will allow him, Manuel
Carnero will do his best to repair it. You have evidently suffered
much, and appear to be in as urgent need of medical attendance as you
are of clothing. Fortunately, I can supply you with both, and shall be
only too happy to do so; I have a very great regard for the English.
Come, gentlemen, allow me to conduct you to the house."

So saying, he escorted us up the pathway until the house was reached,
when, stepping quickly before us, he passed through the open doorway,
and then, turning round, once more bade us welcome to his roof.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

DONA ANTONIA.

The ceremony of bidding us formal welcome having been duly performed to
Don Manuel's satisfaction, he turned once more and called in stentorian
tones for some invisible individual named Pedro, who, quickly making his
appearance in the shape of a grave decorous-looking elderly man-servant,
received certain instructions in Spanish; after which our host, turning
to us, informed us that his valet would have the honour of showing us to
our rooms. Thereupon the sedate and respectful Pedro, who was far too
well-trained a servant to betray the slightest symptom of surprise at
our exceedingly disreputable appearance, led the way to two small but
pleasantly situated rooms adjoining each other, and, bowing profoundly
to each of us as we passed into our respective apartments, closed the
doors and withdrew.

The rooms in question were furnished with bed, washstand, dressing-
table, etcetera, precisely in the English fashion, but the floors,
instead of being covered with carpets, were bare, save for a large and
handsome grass mat which occupied the centre of the room. I flung
myself into a chair and was gazing complacently about me, congratulating
myself upon the good fortune which had guided our wandering feet to such
exceedingly comfortable quarters, when I heard Smellie's door open, and
the next moment caught the tones of Don Manuel's voice. Directly
afterwards a knock came to my own door, and upon my shouting "Come in,"
Pedro reappeared bearing upon his arm what proved to be a complete rig-
out from stem to stern, including even a hat and a pair of shoes. These
he spread out upon the bed, and then once more withdrew.