here again at ten o'clock."

They said good by at the door. Maximina gave her a kiss on her cheek as
usual; she repaid it with a dozen so eager and affectionate that the
young wife could not help exclaiming with a laugh:--

"How crazy you are!"

"Crazy? yes! and very crazy," she replied, as she went down the stairs,
not turning her head.

Her kisses and the accent of those last words somewhat surprised
Maximina, but she did not give much thought to them, and shut the door.

Juana was to accompany the young girl to her mother's. When they reached
the street, it was almost night. On coming to the Calle de Carretas, the
senorita said:--

"Juana, do me the favor to go into that tobacconist's and get a stamp
and drop this letter into the box.... Can you read?" she added, fearing
that she might notice to whom it was directed.

"No, senorita," replied the maid,[59] abashed. She went into the
tobacconist's, and Julia made her believe that she would wait for her at
the door; but as soon as she saw her approach the counter, she ran down
the street, and on reaching the carriage, the horses of which she knew,
she opened the door and slipped in. Immediately a man's voice was heard
to say:--

"Drive hard, Julian, drive hard!"

The horses, lashed by the coachman, dashed along the avenue; they soon
left behind them the centre of population, and galloped half frantically
down Andalucia Avenue.

When they reached Jetafe, the train was already whistling in the
distance. Don Alfonso bought tickets, and calling Julian aside, said:--

"To-morrow, if you should be asked, say that you drove me to Pozuelo for
the train on the Northern Line; do you understand?"

"Depend upon me, senorito."

"Here," said he, giving him some bank-notes. "Take good care of the
horses. I will shortly write you what you are to do."

The train rapidly carried the fugitives away, not toward Seville, but to
Lisbon. At midnight, the _caballero_ having stepped out a moment, came
back with a look of annoyance, saying that he had made a mistake, that
they ought to have changed cars farther back. The girl was stupefied and
dismayed.

"Don't be so much alarmed, dear. Now instead of staying in some large
town on this side where they might get knowledge of us by telegraph, it
would be better for us to go into Portugal, and from there go directly
to Seville."

Although the girl protested violently, she had no other remedy than to
consent.

When they reach