old name,
and old house in Wales. In worldly means I am not rich, but in love for
Dona Isabel I will not yield even to a father."

"And she has told you that your love is returned, has she not?" asked
the noble.

"She has led me to hope it may, and that hope is the loadstar of my
existence; and one with which I will never part."

"Listen, Senhor Hughes. My father, Dom Antonio Mendez de Maxara," said
the noble, speaking slowly and deliberately, "was a rich man. Added to
a proud name, he enjoyed large estates. When I married into the noble
house of the Guzmans of Castille, few had a brighter prospect than
myself. My father mixed himself up with the political parties of the
land. He was unfortunate, and, like many another, plunged more deeply
into intrigue. Not content with that, he must needs join the Guzmans in
their schemes against the Queen of Spain, thus not only rendering
himself obnoxious to the Portuguese Government, but hated and feared by
the cruel and treacherous Narvaez.

"Years passed on, Isabel was born, and her mother paid for the young
life with her own."

The noble paused, and seemed buried in sad reflections as the cigarette
smoke curled upwards.

"Run that warp forward, clap it on to the capstan," shouted the clear
voice of the captain. "Heave with a will, my lads. The old barky knows
her way out into blue water. Run the boats up to the davits, Mr Lowe."

The brig's head, now the anchor was clear of the ground, slowly fell off
under the strain put upon the warp, and she moved through the water in
the direction of the entrance.

"Keep all fast with the boats," called Captain Weber. "We may have to
tow the hussy out. There's not a breath of wind, Mr Lowe. Look handy
with that maintop-gallant sail, my lads. We shall need it before the
moon rises. Send a hand to the wheel."

All was bustle on the brig's decks, while aloft the busy topmen were
bending new sails, splicing the rigging, and completing their work,
which had been hastily but effectually done. The creak of the oars in
their rowlocks was heard as a boat pulled out for the entrance, to see
that all was clear to seaward. Still the old noble seemed immersed in
thought. At last he spoke again.

"The moment came," he said, "when Narvaez triumphed. A traitor was
found who had been for many years my father's intimate friend, had
shared his plans and his purse. Bribed with gold and promises, the man
placed a long political c