disappearance of the Montijo family, winding it up by mentioning that he
had made this call at Calderon's suggestion.

"I am very glad indeed that you acted upon that suggestion," said Don
Ramon. "Calderon is all right; he is absolutely faithful and
trustworthy, and Don Hermoso's interests are perfectly safe in his
hands. And now, let us consider the very serious question of this
mysterious evanishment of my friend and his family. Did I understand
you to say that you actually saw them leave Havana?"

"Yes," said Jack, "I went with them to the station, and chatted with
them until the train pulled out."

"Then," said Don Ramon, "it is obvious that the disappearance occurred
somewhere between Havana and Pinar del Rio--possibly at Santiago, or
maybe at Bejucal. If I cannot hear anything of them elsewhere I will
run down to both those places to-morrow and institute a few judicious
enquiries. Meanwhile, I fear that Senor Calderon's apprehensions as to
the arrest of the entire family are only too well-founded. The fact
that a party of soldiers was sent to search Don Hermoso's house proves
most conclusively that my friend had somehow contrived to arouse the
suspicion of the authorities, which, after all, is not very surprising,
knowing what I do as to Don Hermoso's connection with the insurgents;
and the fact that certain papers were seized by the search party points
to the inference that those papers contained incriminating evidence.
And if they did I can only say that I am heartily sorry for the family,
for since the recent risings the Government is adopting the most
ruthless measures to discourage even passive sympathy with the
insurgents; and we know--you and I--that Don Hermoso's sympathy was
something very much more than passive. Now, there is another question
which I should like to ask you. Do you happen to know whether by any
chance Don Hermoso has been unfortunate enough to make any enemies among
the Government entourage?--for I may tell you that the present moment is
a particularly favourable one for the gratification of private enmity,
if the enemy happens to be connected with the Government."

Jack considered for a moment. "No," he said slowly, "I am not aware of
anything of--stop a moment, though! Yes, by Jove, there is something of
that kind, after all! There is a certain Captain Alvaros, belonging to
one of your infantry regiments, who had the confounded impudence to
propose his marriage with Seno