ttle
farther along on the same side of the chateau, all redoubled their
vigilance at the sound. But for the space of an hour or more nothing
farther was seen or heard north, south, east, or west of the beleaguered
palace of La Granja.

The gipsies had not had the least idea that their intention was known.
They expected no obstacles till the discharge of Concha's piece put them
on their guard, and set them to concerting other and more subtle modes
of attack. It was too dark for those in the chateau to see whether the
wounded man lay where he had fallen or whether he had been removed by
his comrades.

Rollo hastened back to Concha and inquired in a low voice what it was
she had fired at. Whereupon she told him the story of the man climbing
the railings and how she had stayed his course so suddenly. Rollo made
no remark, save that she had done entirely right. Then he inquired if
she had recharged her piece, and hearing that she wanted nothing and was
ready for all emergencies, he departed upon his rounds without the least
leave-taking or approach to love-making. In her heart Concha respected
him for this, but at the same time she could not help feeling that a
Spaniard would have been somewhat warmer in his acknowledgments.
Nevertheless she comforted herself with the thought that he had trusted
her with one of the most important posts in the whole defence, and she
prayed fervently to the Virgin that she might be able to do her duty
there.

She thought also that, when the morning came, perhaps he would have more
time. For her, she could wait--here she smiled a little. Yes, she
acknowledged it. She who had caught so many, was now taken in her own
net. She would go to the world's end for this young Scot. Nor in her
heart of hearts was she ashamed of it. Above and beyond all courtesies
and sugared phrases she loved his free-handed, careless, curt-spoken,
hectoring way. After his one kiss, he had treated her exactly like any
other of his company. He did not make love well, but--she liked him none
the worse for that. In such matters (sayeth the Wise Man) excellence is
apt to come with experience.

And he would learn. Yes, decidedly he might yet do credit to his
teacher. To-morrow morning would arrive, and for the present, well--she
would keep her finger upon the trigger and a pair of remarkably
clear-sighted eyes upon the grey space of greensward crossed by black
trellises of railing immediately before her. That in the mean