Carmona; and among
its passengers Carmona alone was absent.

"That's the Ministry of War," said the Cherub, and with a quick thought I
asked Dick to slow down. Taking advantage of her son's late cordiality, I
spoke to the Duchess.

"We thought we had lost you," said I airily. "I hope nothing's wrong, that
you stop here?"

"Not in the least, thank you," coldly replied the Duchess.

But Monica spoke up bravely. "The Duke didn't tell us why he wanted to go
in. He only said he wouldn't keep us many minutes. Senorita O'Donnel,
shall you be in Madrid long?"

"Only a few days," said Pilar. "And you?"

"We shall be here again at the time of the wedding," Monica answered
quickly; "so I believe the Duke and Duchess will--"

"It is undecided," Lady Vale-Avon cut in before the girl could make us a
present of Carmona's plans. "We may take some excursions. As there's a
fine road to Barcelona, we may go there and to Montserrat; and the Duke
has said something about Bilbao--"

"But, Mother, surely we're going to Seville for Holy Week!" cried Monica.

"There's no reason why we should arrive before Maundy Thursday," replied
Lady Vale-Avon, hiding annoyance. "But isn't that the Duke coming out? I
hope he won't be long. It's windy here, and you have a cold coming on, my
dear Duchess."

We were dismissed; and raising our hats again we drove on, Pilar waving a
small, encouraging hand to Monica. "They won't do any of those things,"
said the Spanish girl. "Something tells me they mean to start for Seville
as soon as they can."

"Something tells me so too," said I. "And something tells me that
Carmona's errand at the Ministry of War is to find out whether Lieutenant
Cristobal O'Donnel y Alvarez is really away from Burgos on leave."

"That's what I was thinking," murmured the Cherub. "But the thought will
not bring a grey hair. Cristobal _is_ on leave; and he told his brother
officers that he expected to go with his family to Seville. It was at the
last minute that his plans were changed. No one was taken into his
confidence; and it will be very negligent of San Cristobal to let him meet
in Biarritz any common acquaintance of his and Carmona's."

"I'm putting my faith in San Cristobal," said I. "But as he has a good
deal to attend to, the less I show myself in Madrid, where my adopted
brother must be known, the better."

"He hasn't been as often here as Pilar and I," said the Cherub, "so he
knows few people. Still, Cristobal's u