who shall be chosen by our trusted Councillor for
the Mission Extraordinary in the service of Carlos
Quinto--These:

"You will receive from General Cabrera such succour and
assistance as may seem to you needful in pursuance of the
project you have in hand, namely the capturing of the young
Princess Isabel together with her mother, the so-called Regent
Cristina. Thereafter you will bring them with diligence within
our lines, observing all the respect and courtesy due to their
exalted rank and to the sex to which they belong.

"At the same time you are held indemnified for all killings of
such persons as may stand in your way in the execution of the
duty laid upon you, and by order of the King himself you hereby
take rank as a full Colonel in his service."

Meanwhile Cabrera had been bending his brows over the note which had
been directed to him personally. He rose and paced the length of the
garden-wall with the letter in his hand, while Rollo stood his ground
with an unmoved countenance. Presently he stopped opposite the young man
and stood regarding him intently.

"I am, I understand, to furnish you with men for this venture," he said;
"good--but I am at liberty to prove you first. That you are cool and
brave I know. We must find out whether you are loyal as well."

"I am as loyal as any Spaniard who ever drew breath," retorted Rollo,
hotly, "and in this matter I will answer for my companions as well."

"And pray in what way, Sir Spitfire?" said Cabrera, smiling.

"Why, as a man should," said Rollo, "with his sword or his pistol,
or--as is our island custom--with his fists--it is all the same to me;
yes, even with your abominable Spanish knife, which is no true
gentleman's weapon!"

"I am no unfriend to plainness, sir, either in speech or action," said
Cabrera; "I see you are indeed a brave fellow, and will not lessen the
king's chances of coming to his own by letting you loose on the men
under my command. Still for one day you will not object to ride with
us!"

Rollo coloured high.

"General," he said, "I will not conceal it from you that I have wasted
too much time already; but if you wish for our assistance in your
designs for twenty-four hours, I am not the man to deny you."

"I thought not," cried Cabrera, much pleased. "And now have you any
business to despatch before we leave this place? If so, let it be seen
to at once!"

"None, Ex