e he was glad to have no evidence for
an ancestry of deceit. None of the Da Costas had been cowards, thank
Heaven! And he--he was no coward, he told himself.

IV

In the morning, though only a few hours of sleep had intervened, the
enthusiasm of the night had somewhat subsided. "Whence came the
inspiration of Moses?" flew up to his mind almost as soon as he opened
his eyes on the sunlit world. He threw open the protrusive casement of
his bedroom to the balmy air, tinged with a whiff of salt, and gazed
pensively at the white town rambling down towards the shining river.
Had God indeed revealed Himself on Mount Sinai? But this fresh doubt
was banished by the renewed suspicion which, after having disturbed
his dreams in nebulous distortions, sprang up in daylight clearness.
It was his babbling about Dom Diego that had ruined the genial old
physician. After days of gathering uneasiness, being unable to gain
any satisfaction from the friar, he sought the secretary of the
Inquisition in his bureau at a monastery of the Dominicans. The
secretary rubbed his hands at the sight of the speechful face. "Aha!
What new foxes hast thou scented?" The greeting stung like a stab.

"None," he replied, with a tremor in his speech and in his limbs. "I
did but desire to learn if I am to blame for Dom Diego's arrest."

"To blame?" and the secretary looked askance at him. "Say, rather, to
praise."

"Nay, to blame," repeated Gabriel staunchly. "Mayhap I mistook or
misrendered his conversation. 'Tis scant evidence to imprison a man
on. I trust ye have found more."

"Ay, thou didst but set Frei Jose on the track. We did not even
trouble thee to appear before the Qualifiers."

"And he is, indeed, a Jew!"

"A Hebrew of Hebrews, by his stiff-neckedness. But 'twas not quite
proven; the fox is a cunning beast. Already he hath had the three
'first audiences,' but he will not confess and be made a Penitent.
This morning we try other means."

"Torture?" said Gabriel, paling. The secretary nodded.

"But if he is innocent."

"No fear of that; he will confess at the first twinge. Come, unknit
thy brow. Wouldst make sure thou hast served Heaven? Thou shalt hear
his confession--as a reward for thy zeal."

"He will deem I have come to gloat."

"Here is a mask for thee."

Gabriel took it hesitatingly, repelled, but more strongly fascinated,
and after a feverish half-hour of waiting he found himself with the
secretary, the judge of the Inqui