to make a forced march,"
he answered; "you must preserve your health, else you may be unable to
render the service you desire. I intend that you should travel in the
character of a young English gentleman, with Mr Laffan as your tutor.
You must speak no Spanish; and he knows quite enough to get on perfectly
well."

We had just arranged the whole plan, and I had agreed to go back and
explain it to Mr Laffan, when Don Cassiodoro hurriedly entered the
room.

"My dear doctor," he exclaimed, "some Spanish officials are at the door,
and from the information I have received I fear that they have come to
arrest you. Follow me instantly. Take up these writing materials and
everything that belongs to you; there's not a moment to lose. Let your
son come too; were he to be seen, they would at once conclude that you
were here."

Don Cassiodoro leading the way, my father and I followed him to an upper
story, and entered an unfurnished room. "If the don requires us to stay
here, we shall certainly be discovered," I thought. But I was mistaken.
Drawing aside a panel in the wall, he disclosed a recess; then pointing
upwards, he showed us a broad shelf at the top.

"How are we to get up there?" asked my father.

Don Cassiodoro pulled down a small ladder. "Draw this up after you," he
said, "and place it along the side. You will find that there is a cover
which may be let down, and which will completely conceal you. Should
those seeking you chance to discover the panel and enter the recess,
they might search round it, and yet not suppose that you were within."

My father wrung the don's hand and expressed his gratitude. We
immediately climbed up, and drawing the ladder after us, then let down
the lid,--for so I may call it,--which made the surface look exactly
like a broad beam running from one side of the house to the other. A
more perfect hiding-place could scarcely have been devised, as no
stranger, unless treachery had been at work, was likely to discover it.

We heard Don Cassiodoro's footsteps as he descended the stairs. Soon
afterwards voices from below reached us. The door of the room had been
ostentatiously left open. Don Cassiodoro's voice rose above that of his
unwelcome visitors as he complained of the insult offered him, and at
the want of confidence placed in his loyalty. The officers must have
been, by some means or other, informed that my father was in the house,
as they persisted in searching every r