of them--an answer this which would have fitted
the case of Don Sebastian, who was born after his father's death, and
quitted in early infancy by his mother.

As for Frey Miguel, he stated boldly under examination the conviction
that Don Sebastian had survived the African expedition, and the belief
that Espinosa might well be the missing monarch. He protested that
he had acted in good faith throughout, and without any thought of
disloyalty to the King of Spain.

Late one night, after he had been some three months in prison, Espinosa
was roused from sleep by an unexpected visit from the Alcalde. At once
he would have risen and dressed.

"Nay," said Don Rodrigo, restraining him, "that is not necessary for
what is intended."

It was a dark phrase which the prisoner, sitting up in bed with tousled
hair, and blinking in the light of the torches, instantly interpreted
into a threat of torture. His face grew white.

"It is impossible," he protested. "The King cannot have ordered what you
suggest. His Majesty will take into account that I am a man of honour.
He may require my death, but in an honourable manner, and not upon the
rack. And as for its being used to make me speak, I have nothing to add
to what I have said already."

The stern, dark face of the Alcalde was overspread by a grim smile.

"I would have you remark that you fall into contradictions. Sometimes
you pretend to be of humble and lowly origin, and sometimes a person of
honourable degree. To hear you at this moment one might suppose that to
submit you to torture would be to outrage your dignity. What then..."

Don Rodrigo broke off suddenly to stare, then snatched a torch from the
hand of his alguaziles and held it close to the face of the prisoner,
who cowered now, knowing full well what it was the Alcalde had detected.
In that strong light Don Rodrigo saw that the prisoner's hair and beard
had turned grey at the roots, and so received the last proof that he had
to do with the basest of impostures. The fellow had been using dyes,
the supply of which had been cut short by his imprisonment. Don Rodrigo
departed well-satisfied with the results of that surprise visit.

Thereafter Espinosa immediately shaved himself. But it was too late, and
even so, before many weeks were past his hair had faded to its natural
grey, and he presented the appearance of what in fact he was--a man of
sixty, or thereabouts.

Yet the torture to which he was presently submitte