l was solid masonry. Besides which, the
chests of valuables and papers, the casks of fine liquors and smuggled
cigars proved that this was intended for a secret wall chamber in which
to conceal the valuables of the house in case of alarm. Such
hiding-places are not uncommon in the old houses of Spain, as Rollo
knew, though this was the first he had seen.

"Give yourself the pain of entering, Senor," he said to Fernandez, and
without waiting for any overt permission from Ramon, he caught up the
old hag Tia Elvira in his arms and carried her, bundle and all, into the
room.

"Here I am compelled to leave you for the time being in the dark, Don
Luis," he said courteously. "But I think you will agree that your state
is not the less gracious for that. I shall return immediately and
present certain propositions for your consideration."

"You are an Englishman," cried Fernandez, "you will not stand by and see
a man murdered in cold blood."

"The blood is none so cold that I can see," said Rollo, shrugging his
shoulders. "I will do the best I can for you, Senor; only do not try any
tricks with us. The least sign of further treachery will be fatal, and
we have many friends about us."

CHAPTER XVI

DON LUIS IS WILLING

So saying, Rollo went out and locked the door behind him, leaving La
Giralda with a loaded pistol seated beside it to prevent any egress, in
case Fernandez had some way of opening the bolts from the inside known
only to himself.

When Rollo returned from arranging these matters he found El Sarria's
place vacant. But the young man following the direction of La Giralda's
nod went out, and in a chamber about which hung a peculiar atmosphere of
drugs, he found the outlaw on his knees by a woman's bedside.

Rollo stole forward on tiptoe, and in the pale glimmer of dawn he saw
for the first time the features of Dolores, the wife of Ramon the
outlaw.

He could discern eye-lashes that lay very broad and dark upon colourless
cheeks, a white-wrapped form under snowy coverlets, straight as the dead
arrayed for burial, but nevertheless evidently alive, and sleeping
peacefully with gently heaving breast.

The giant's head was sunk on the coverlet and his lips touched the damp
fingers of the hand which lay without the sheet.

With true reverence Rollo touched Ramon on the shoulder and pointed to
the window. The pale unearthly green of the sky spaces between the dark
purple bars of cloud was fast changing t