known as El
Diablo Cojuelo! I should be interested to know how you managed to get
some of my clothes here, together with my toilet requisites."

"That was not the work of the devil, senorita," the hooded figure
answered, with a muffled laugh, "El Diablo Cojuelo thinks of
everything, and had made his preparations in advance. Did I not tell
you all the servants of El Castillo de Ruiz were in my pay? It was a
simple matter, therefore, to have some of your things smuggled out of
the castle before the raid. Pray be seated, senorita."

He waved his hand invitingly towards the couch which was drawn up close
to the electric heater, and Myra, reflecting that it was in keeping
with the rest of the fantastic, dream-like adventure that she, clad
only in a nightdress and dressing-gown, should be talking to a hooded
bandit in an electrically-lighted room in the heart of a mountain,
seated herself.

"I suppose I should thank you for being so thoughtful," she remarked,
with a tinge of irony in her sweet voice. "Am I to understand that
even the English-speaking maid at the Castillo de Ruiz is in your pay?"

"Even she, senorita, and I reproach myself--I who have boasted that I
think of everything--for not having kidnapped her at the same time as
you, so that we should have had no language difficulty such as has
occurred with Madre Dolores. If you wish it, I will kidnap her
to-morrow."

"Please don't trouble, senor. I can't believe she is in your pay. She
seemed afraid and crossed herself when she mentioned your name. You
might frighten her to death. Incidentally, do you wear your disguise
all the time, even when you are safe here in your mountain lair? Do
you look so much like a devil that you are afraid to show your face?"

She looked challengingly at the hooded figure of her captor as she
asked the questions. His cowl had two holes cut for the eyes and a
slit at the mouth, and she was wondering what manner of face it
concealed.

"The senorita pays me the compliment of wishing to see me without
disguise!" exclaimed Cojuelo. "Sweet lady, are you not afraid you may
fall in love with your captor?"

"I think I can take the risk," retorted Myra drily.

"It is more than a risk," rejoined Cojuelo, "but I will discard my
disguise with pleasure. Behold El Diablo Cojuelo!"

He flung off his cowl and robe, and Myra sprang to her feet with a cry
of amazement and her hands went convulsively to her breast. For she
found he