ver.

Just beyond the second line of fortifications is a halting-place by a low
wall where the country women (whom one may meet riding in the
plain--dignified, cloaked and hooded figures, startlingly suggestive of a
sacred picture) on mule or donkey, stop to descend from their perch
between the saddle-bags or panniers. It is a sort of al fresco cloakroom
where these ladies repair the ravages of wind or storm, where they
assemble in the evening to pack their purchases on their beasts of
burden, and finally climb to the top of all themselves. For it is not
etiquette to ride in or out of the gates upon one's wares; and a breach
of this unwritten law would immediately arouse the suspicion of the
courteous toll-officer, who fingers delicately with a tobacco-stained
hand the bundles and baskets submitted to his inspection.

Here also Marcos had friends, and was able to tell the latest news from
Cuba, where some had husband, son or lover; a so-called volunteer to put
down the hopeless rebellion, attracted to a miserable death, by the
forty-pound bounty paid by Government. There were old women who chaffed
him, and young ones with fine-cut classic features and crinkled hair, who
lay in wait for a glance from his grave eyes.

"It is a pity there are not more like you, Senor Conde," said one old
peasant; "for it is you that keeps the men from fighting among themselves
and makes them tend the sheep or take in the crops. Carlist or Royalist,
the land comes before either, say I."

"For it is the land that feeds the children," added another, who carried
a pair of small espradrillas in her apron pocket.

Marcos went back to his father with such information as he had been able
to gather.

"Leon is here," he said. "He is in Retreat at the monastery of the
Redemptionists, which stands half-empty on the road to Villaba. Sor
Teresa and Juanita are both well and in the school in the Calle de la
Dormitaleria. Mon has been here for some weeks, but went to Madrid four
days ago. It is an open secret that Pacheco will go over to the Carlists
with his whole army corps for cash down--but he will not take a promise.
The Carlists think that their opportunity has come."

"And so do I," said Sarrion. "The Duke of Aosta is the son of Victor
Emmanuel, we must remember that. And no son of the man who overthrew the
Pope can hope to be tolerated by the clerical party here. The new king
will be assassinated, Marcos. I give him six months."

"Will yo