tion.

At San Fernando, I was assailed by doubt. What if, after all, the car we
sought had not gone to Cadiz, but had here taken the coast road to
Algeciras? The great conference was only just over, there; tourists of all
nations were flocking to the town, attracted by curiosity; and as the
place boasts the most beautiful hotel in Spain, it seemed likely that in
flying from Seville the Duke should choose Algeciras instead of Cadiz. But
some fishermen, on that rope of sand which binds Cadiz to the mainland,
had seen a car pass a few hours before. Yes, only one; and they thought it
was grey. It had four or five passengers, and was going to Cadiz.

Thither we spurted, Dick studying a plan of the city as we flew along the
straight road embanked above the sand. By the time we arrived in silver
Cadiz he was able to say in which direction I must drive to find the chief
hotel; and in an open _place_ not far from the crowded port we stopped.

Dick stayed to guard the car from the crowd which quickly collected, while
I went to question the landlord.

No travellers with an automobile were stopping with him at present; but
one had arrived a couple of hours ago, perhaps, and its passengers had
wished to remain overnight. Unfortunately, however, as a big ship had just
come in from America every room was taken.

There was no other hotel at which persons of taste could stop in comfort;
and after some discussion, the owner of the car had decided to run on to
Algeciras by way of Tarifa. The party, consisting of three ladies, one
gentleman, and the chauffeur, had taken a hasty meal, and had got away
about an hour and a half before our arrival.

"Those beastly _bandidos_!" I exclaimed to Dick in a rage of
disappointment. "If it hadn't been for them we should have been on the
heels of the grey car, and caught it up here at the hotel. I should have
been able to snatch Monica away from under their noses--for I know she
wouldn't have failed me."

"Those beastly _bandidos_ introduced you to the King,--don't forget that,"
said Dick consolingly. "And the day may come before long when you'll be
glad of that introduction. You can never tell, in a life like yours. And
once Carmona's at Algeciras, why, you've got him in a kind of _cul-de-sac_
from which he can't escape, any more than a mouse can jump out of a basin
half full of water. If he takes rooms at the Reina Cristina, you'll come
plump upon him. If he tries to return by road, he'll run i