oward in a fair fight in the open, and I'll meet the
best man that walks the earth." Here he faced the inquisitive and
thoroughly awed villagers. "Any two or three!"

He banged the table with his riding-crop to punctuate the emphasis.

"I don't ask you to kill one or two or three of these poor whimpering
sheep of Seguro. I ask you to dare something, at risk to yourself. To
go to the aid of your Prince.... There isn't a man among you--who
_dares_! _Dios!_ How I could love _such a man_!"

They had not heard the thrum of the motors on the roadway outside. The
door opened, and the first of the party to enter was the Duke. He
walked quietly into the room, overhearing the words of Dolores.

"A pretty little speech!" he observed sarcastically.

"Your Excellency!" cried Robledo, taking off his hat. "Welcome back to
Seguro."

"Yes, I am well come to Seguro."

The natives doffed their hats, and like Pedro bowed and howled in the
time-honored peasant way.

"The Duke! The Duke!"

"Pedro, go out and help the Princess and her servants with the luggage.
I want to speak to you alone, Robledo. Hurry, while the others are
delayed with that execrable car. I walked a hundred yards to get here
first."

He turned toward Dolores with a scowl.

"Those are charming sentiments for your fellow-townsmen, whose healthy
common sense prevents them from rushing to a fool's death. Still, all
fools are not dead yet. One of them will be here to-night. And you,
senorita, will doubtless be pleased to look over him, as he has come
all the way from America for the privilege of entering the castle and
playing your hero."

Dolores looked at Robledo, as she parried:

"And did her Highness have to go all the way to America to find him?"

"Yes, indeed. He's from America, where all the fools come from!"

And the villagers joined in a merry chorus of intelligent laughter!

XIII

"GENTLEMEN, A MAN!"

Dolores had hurried upstairs, where she well knew there was a tiny
attic in the rambling old building which acted as an excellent
whispering gallery. Every word spoken in the larger room below could be
heard from this vantage. She was no sooner secreted there than she
heard the voice of the Duke.

"You received my telegram sent to San Fernandez?"

"Yes, Excellency. Antonio brought it over with the mail-bags."

"What about the Prince?"

"Ah, Excellency ... why ask? The same news as before. This stupid
Vardos has been taking food to th