that you might manage it."

Stephen now saw that the speaker was a young and very pretty girl.

"I am speaking to the Senorita Inez Conchas," he said respectfully. "How
can I thank you and Don Filippo sufficiently for your action in my behalf.
You have saved my life, for assuredly had I not known that I should be
handed over to the Inquisition no thought of making my escape to-night
would have entered my mind."

"It is all Filippo's doing," she said. "He made me write the letter, and
got me to come here because he could not come himself,--I and my old nurse
with me. She is sitting in the front room on watch; it was she who opened
the door to you. You see, we could not be sure whether the note would
reach you; the man whom we bribed might have turned traitor and given it
to the governor. My nurse arranged it; for it would never have done for
Filippo to have appeared in the matter, and I am so well known in the
place that it would have been very dangerous. However, we hoped that all
would be well, for half the man's bribe was not to be paid to him until
you were free. However, we placed her at the corner of the street this
afternoon in order to watch if anyone came to this house or stopped to
look at it earnestly. The people are away in the country, and my nurse,
who knew the woman who is left in charge here, got her to lend her the key
until to-morrow morning, on some excuse or other. Filippo brought me round
just before dark; there is an entertainment to-night at the Viceroy's, and
he had to be there. Indeed, it was the best place he could be, as no
suspicion can now fall upon him of having aided in your escape. How did
you manage it, senor?"

Stephen briefly related how it had been brought about.

"That was well done indeed!" the girl said, clapping her hands merrily. "I
scarce thought that it could be your knock when you came, for we had
agreed that if you did manage to make your escape it would not be until
very late, and it seemed impossible that you could have got out so early.
However, that is all the better, as you will now have a long start. Now,
senor, the first thing for you to do will be to put on the disguise
Filippo has prepared for you in that bag on the table. Here is a piece of
burnt cork for darkening your eyebrows and eyelashes, and a false
moustache that will quite change your appearance. I will go into the next
room with nurse; when you are dressed you can call, and I will come back."

As soon a