ring
of price, and other costly jewels. The couple stared now with dazzled
eyes.

"But didn't you tell me when we were in Madrid together that you had
been a pastry-cook at Ocana?" burst from Gregorio.

Espinosa smiled. "How many kings and princes have been compelled to
conceal themselves under disguises?" he asked oracularly. And seeing
them stricken, he must play upon them further. Nothing, it seems, was
sacred to him--not even the portrait of that lovely, desolate royal lady
in her convent at Madrigal. Forth he plucked it, and thrust it to them
across the stains of wine and oil that befouled their table.

"Look at this beautiful lady, the most beautiful in Spain," he bade
them. "A prince could not have a lovelier bride."

"But she is dressed as a nun," the woman protested. "How, then, can she
marry?"

"For kings there are no laws," he told her with finality.

At last he departed, but bidding Gregorio to think of the offer he
had made him. He would come again for the cook's reply, leaving word
meanwhile of where he was lodged.

They deemed him mad, and were disposed to be derisive. Yet the woman's
disbelief was quickened into malevolence by the jealous fear that
what he had told them of himself might, after all, be true. Upon that
malevolence she acted forthwith, lodging an information with Don Rodrigo
de Santillan, the Alcalde of Valladolid.

Very late that night Espinosa was roused from his sleep to find his room
invaded by alguaziles--the police of the Alcalde. He was arrested and
dragged before Don Rodrigo to give an account of himself and of certain
objects of value found in his possession--more particularly of a ring,
on the cameo of which was carved a portrait of King Philip.

"I am Gabriel de Espinosa," he answered firmly, "a pastry-cook of
Madrigal."

"Then how come you by these jewels?"

"They were given me by Dona Ana of Austria to sell for her account. That
is the business that has brought me to Valladolid."

"Is this Dona Ana's portrait?"

"It is."

"And this lock of hair? Is that also Dona Ana's? And do you, then,
pretend that these were also given you to sell?"

"Why else should they be given me?"

Don Rodrigo wondered. They were useless things to steal, and as for the
lock of hair, where should the fellow find a buyer for that? The Alcalde
conned his man more closely, and noted that dignity of bearing, that
calm assurance which usually is founded upon birth and worth. He sent
him