enora," said the
Padre, with exasperating gentleness, "and were relieved to be assured by
me of your perfect security in the hands of these gentlemen."

Miss Keene raised her clear eyes to the ecclesiastic. That accomplished
diplomat of Todos Santos absolutely felt confused under the cool
scrutiny of this girl's unbiased and unsophisticated intelligence.

"Then you HAVE seen them," she said, "and you know their innocence, and
the utter absurdity of this surveillance?"

"I have not seen them ALL," said the priest softly. "There is still
another--a Senor Hurlstone--who is missing? Is he not?"

It was not in the possibility of Eleanor Keene's truthful blood to do
other than respond with a slight color to this question. She had already
concealed from every one the fact of having seen the missing man in the
Mission garden the evening before. It did not, however, prevent her the
next moment from calmly meeting the glance of the priest as she answered
gravely,--

"I believe so. But I cannot see what that has to do with the detention
of the others."

"Much, perhaps. It has been said that you alone, my child, were in the
confidence of this man."

"Who dared say that?" exclaimed Miss Keene in English, forgetting
herself in her indignation.

"If it's anything mean--it's Mrs. Brimmer, I'll bet a cooky," said
Mrs. Markham, whose linguistic deficiencies had debarred her from the
previous conversation.

"You have only," continued the priest, without noticing the
interruption, "to tell us what you know of this Hurlstone's plans,--of
his complicity with Senor Perkins, or," he added significantly, "his
opposition to them--to insure that perfect justice shall be done to
all."

Relieved that the question involved no disclosure of her only secret
regarding Hurlstone, Miss Keene was about to repeat the truth that
she had no confidential knowledge of him, or of his absurd alleged
connection with Senor Perkins, when, with an instinct of tact, she
hesitated. Might she not serve them all--even Hurlstone himself--by
saying nothing, and leaving the burden of proof to their idiotic
accusers? Was she altogether sure that Hurlstone was entirely ignorant
of Senor Perkins' plans, or might he not have refused, at the last
moment, to join in the conspiracy, and so left the ship?

"I will not press you for your answer now," said the priest gently. "But
you will not, I know, keep back anything that may throw a light on this
sad affair, and p