nd they went alone; Don Ignacio having repaired to
a private apartment, where he was accustomed to shut himself up for the
examination of State papers, what if the ladies _were_ still in the
grounds, in some secluded spot, lying dead, where all these adornments
had been stripped from their persons!

This horrible tableau did the faithful servant in imagination conjure
up. He could not help it. Nor was the thing so very improbable. He
had some earlier acquaintance with the desperate character of the dwarf,
which later experience confirmed. Besides, there was the state of the
country--thieves and robbers all round--men who made light of murder!

With a heaviness of heart--a painful fear that there had been murder--he
stayed not to further examine the trinkets; but gathering all up again,
and thrusting them back into his pocket, hurried on home.

And when home he went not to his own quarters in the coachyard, but
straight into the _patio_--the private court of the house. There he
encountered Pepita; soon as he set eyes on her, asking--

"Where are the _Senoritas_?"

"What's that to you?" saucily retorted the maid.

"Nothing, if I only knew they were safe."

"Safe! Why what's the man thinking--talking about? Have you lost your
senses, _hombre_?"

"No, Pepita. But the ladies have lost something. Look here!"

He had plunged both his hands into his pockets, and drawn them out again
full of things that scintillated in the moonlight--watches and jewellery
of different kinds, as she saw. With a woman's curiosity, gliding
swiftly forward to examine them, she recognised every article at a
glance, amazement overspreading her countenance, as it lately had his.

"_Ay de mi_!" she exclaimed, no longer in jesting tone. "What does it
all mean, Jose?"

"Just what I want to know myself, and why I am asking after the
Senoritas. But where are they?"

"In the garden, or the grounds somewhere. They strolled out about an
hour ago, and haven't been in since."

"Pray God, they're still alive! Come with me, Pepita. Let us look for
them. I have terrible fears."

So appealed to, the girl gave ready assent; and side by side they
hastened towards the rear of the house, behind which were the ornamental
grounds extending backwards. But they had not far to go before hearing
sounds that set their minds at rest, removing all anxiety--the voices of
the ladies themselves. They were not only alive, but laughing!

To Jose an