the hidden couple.

And then quite suddenly a silence fell, and on that silence beat the
sharp, clear voice of Diego de Susan addressing them.

"My friends," he said, "I have called you hither that we may concert
measures for the protection of ourselves and all New-Christians in
Seville from the fresh peril by which we are menaced. The edict of the
inquisitors reveals how much we have to fear. You may gather from it
that the court of the Holy Office is hardly likely to deal in justice,
and that the most innocent may find himself at any moment exposed to
its cruel mercies. Therefore it is for us now to consider how to protect
ourselves and our property from the unscrupulous activities of this
tribunal. You are the principal New Christian citizens of Seville;
you are wealthy, not only in property, but also in the goodwill of the
people, who trust and respect, and at need will follow, you. If nothing
less will serve, we must have recourse to arms; and so that we
are resolute and united, my friends, we shall prevail against the
inquisitors."

Within the alcove, Don Rodrigo felt his skin roughening with horror at
this speech, which breathed sedition not only against the Sovereigns,
but against the very Church. And with his horror was blent a certain
increase of fear. If his situation had been perilous before, it was
tenfold more dangerous now. Discovery, since he had overheard this
treason, must mean his certain death. And Isabella, realizing the same
to the exclusion of all else, clutched his arm and cowered against him
in the dark.

There was worse to follow. Susan's address was received with a murmur
of applause, and then others spoke, and several were named, and their
presence thus disclosed. There was the influential Manuel Sauli, who
next to Susan was the wealthiest man in Seville; there was Torralba, the
Governor of Triana; Juan Abolafio, the farmer of the royal customs, and
his brother Fernandez, the licentiate, and there were others--all of
them men of substance, some even holding office under the Crown. Not one
was there who dissented from anything that Susan had said; rather did
each contribute some spur to the general resolve. In the end it was
concerted that each of those present should engage himself to raise a
proportion of the men, arms and money that would be needed for their
enterprise. And upon that the meeting was dissolved, and they departed.
Susan himself went with them. He had work to do in the co