leaving his guest to be looked after
by Gregorio.

Surrendering himself to the mayor-domo, Kearney was conducted to an
outer room, in which he found a washstand and dressing-table, with towel
and other toilet articles--all, however, of the commonest kind. Even
so, they were luxuries that had been long denied him--especially the
water, a constant stream of which ran into a stone basin from some pure
mountain spring.

And, sure enough, the clean shirt was there, with a full suit of
clothes; velveteen jacket, _calzoneras calzoncillas_, scarf of China
crape--in short, the complete costume of a _ranchero_. A man of medium
size, they fitted him nicely; and arrayed in them he made a very
handsome appearance.

"Now, your honour," said the individual in charge of him, "allow me to
show you the Refectory."

Another turn along the main passage brought them to the door, from which
issued a buzz of voices. His host had prepared him to expect company,
and on stepping inside this door he saw it in the shape of some
twenty-five or thirty men, all in the garb of monks of the same order as
Rivas himself.

The room was a large one, saloon shape, with a table standing centrally,
around which were benches and chairs. A cloth was spread upon it, with
a multifarious and somewhat heterogeneous array of ware--bottles and
glasses being conspicuous; for it was after eleven o'clock, and the meal
_almuerzo_, as much dinner as breakfast. The viands were being put upon
it; three or four Indian youths, not in convent dress, passing them
through a hatch that communicated with the kitchen, and from which also
came a most appetising odour.

All this the young Irishman took in with a sweep of his eye, which
instantly after became fixed upon the friars who had faced towards him.
They were standing in two or three groups, the largest gathered round an
individual who towered above all of them by the head and shoulders.
Cris Rock it was, clean shaven, and looking quite respectable; indeed,
better dressed than Kearney had seen him since he left off his New
Orleans "store" clothes. The Colossus was evidently an object of great
interest to his new acquaintances; and, from the farcical look upon
their faces, it was clear they had been doing their best to "draw" him.
With what success Kearney could not tell; though, from the knowledge he
had of his old comrade's cleverness, he suspected not much. There was
just time for him to note the jovial air of