jured as he at first appeared to be.

On my return to the house I found the whole place in confusion, as might
naturally be expected, and Don Manuel, with his damaged hand in a sling,
anxiously inquiring of Smellie whether he had any idea as to the
identity of the perpetrators of the outrage.

"I certainly _have_ an idea who was the leader," answered Smellie; "but
I scarcely like to give utterance to my suspicions. Here comes
Hawkesley; let us see whether his opinion upon the matter coincides with
mine. Hawkesley, do you think you ever met either of those men before?"

"Yes," I replied unhesitatingly; "unless I am greatly mistaken, the man
who was so pertinacious in his attack upon you, and whom I shot, was
Senor Madera."

"Exactly so," coincided Smellie. "I recognised him directly; but it was
so very dark down there among the trees that I scarcely cared to say as
much without first having my conviction verified. I very much fear, Don
Manuel, you have been grossly deceived by that fellow; if I am not
greatly mistaken he is a thorough rascal. I do not say this because of
his cowardly attack upon me--that I can quite account for after your
explanation of a night or two ago; but his daring outrage upon your
daughter is quite another matter."

"Yes, yes," exclaimed Don Manuel excitedly; "the fellow is a villain,
there is no doubt about that. I have never entertained a very high
opinion of him, it is true; but I must admit that I was quite unprepared
for any such high-handed behaviour as that of to-night."

"Well," said Smellie cheerfully, "I think Hawkesley has given his ardour
a cooling for some time to come, at all events; and for the rest, you
will have to be very carefully on your guard for the future, my dear
sir. I do not think he will venture a second attempt so long as we
remain under your roof, but after we are gone--"

"Which I hope will not be for some time to come," hospitably interrupted
Don Manuel. "But have no fear for us, my dear Don Harold; `forewarned
is forearmed,' as you say in your England, and I shall take care to
render any further attack upon my daughter's liberty impossible. But
come, dinner awaits us, and we can further discuss the matter, if need
be, over the--what is that you call it?--ah, yes, `the social board!'"

Thereupon we filed into the dining-room, and took our places at the
table. And there, before the conversation had an opportunity to drift
back into its former channe