for Don Hermoso--who, you must remember, is a suspected man--
should see you, and the fact of our acquaintance thus become known.
When you have occasion to call upon me--which I trust, Senor, will be
very often--come to the little wicket in the back wall of my garden, by
which I am about to let you out, and I will give my gardener
instructions to admit you whenever you may present yourself; there will
thus be much less chance of our acquaintance with each other becoming
known."

So saying, Don Ramon conducted his visitor down a narrow corkscrew
staircase into a large and most beautiful garden, where Jack and the
gardener were duly confronted with each other, and certain instructions
given to the latter; after which the gate in the wall was opened, and,
with a prior precautionary peep, to ensure that no lurking watcher was
in sight, the young Englishman was gently hustled into a narrow and very
dark and dirty lane.

"Your way lies to the left," murmured Don Ramon, as he shook hands with
Jack and bade him good night. "Walk in the middle of the road; and keep
a wary eye on the courts and passages to right and left of you, as you
pass them. These back streets are always dangerous, and especially so
at night-time; therefore, if anyone should spring out at you, do not
stop to parley, but hit out straight and hard. Good night!"

As it happened, Jack did not see a solitary human being until he
presently emerged into one of the wider and more frequented streets; and
twenty minutes later he was safely on board the _Thetis_ again, to the
great astonishment of Milsom, who had been pacing the deck in an
endeavour to raise an appetite for dinner, and meanwhile picturing to
himself the pleasant time that he supposed Jack to be having at the
hacienda. He was, of course, profoundly concerned at the news which
Jack had to tell him; and spent the remainder of the evening in
alternately invoking sea blessings upon the head of Don Sebastian
Alvaros, wondering what would happen to the Montijos should the
apprehensions of their friends prove correct, and endeavouring to devise
schemes for the discovery and liberation of the family.

The next morning saw Jack an early visitor at the office of the British
Consul; and into the sympathetic ear of that most long-suffering
official the young man poured all his woes, all his fears, all his
indignation that such happenings could occur in a so-called Christian
country. But the Consul could o