his festive band of
cavaliers.

There was one, however, who took no part in all this. Excusing himself
from the festive board on the plea of ill health, he held aloof, a prey to
dark and gloomy suspicions. These he communicated to Harry before the
"evening session" began. It seemed that the much afflicted Russell,
believing the true Don Carlos to be no better than the false one, held the
firm conviction that the bonds had been appropriated by him for his own
purposes, and that their proceeds would be squandered on the extravagant
schemes of the hopeless Carlist insurrection. But Harry scouted the idea.
"Keep them? He keep them?" he cried. "Never! Don Carlos is a gentleman."

At this Russell groaned and turned away.

Meanwhile the preparations for the coming event were diligently carried
on. Before morning the ancient chapel of the hoary castle was decked out
with evergreens brought from the neighboring forest, and everything was
made ready for the marriage-feast.

Morning came. All gathered in the chapel, which in its robe of evergreens
looked like a bower.

The three buglers and one drummer belonging to the troop played in
magnificent strains the stirring notes of the "Wedding March."

The Cure of Santa Cruz presented an unexceptionable appearance in his
ecclesiastical robes.

There, too, was the man who claimed to be the rightful King of Spain,
surrounded by men who represented some of the noblest families of the
nation--an illustrious company, the like of which none of the principals
in this ceremony had ever dreamed of as likely to be present at his
wedding.

The bridegrooms came, looking, it must be confessed, slightly seedy.

Then came the brides, resplendent in their best attire, procured from the
luggage which had been brought here at the time of their capture by
O'Toole.

There were no bride'smaids. But Mrs. Russell was present, leaning on the
arm of her beloved husband, all in tears. And why? Was it from regrets for
the lost crown of Spain? or was it merely from the tender sentiment which
is usually called forth on such an occasion? or was it from the thought of
that one whose fortunes she had followed for many eventful hours with a
view to such a conclusion as this?

No matter.

Reader, let us draw a veil over the emotions of this afflicted lady.

The marriages went on. The knots were all tied.

Then came the wedding breakfast.

Don Carlos was in his best mood. He jested, he laughed, he pai