t the terms of her
contract in the courts. Doubtless she had a great opinion of her own
capabilities, but as she could see for herself her place had been
easily filled. The world was large, and there were plenty of
women--_sacre_, too many!

As usual he was disappointed in the effect of his remarks. Whether her
silence meant indifference or sheer stupidity he was never quite sure.
As Arithelli had no vanity the loss of her position meant little to her.

The loss of a private dressing-room meant a great deal. It was a
refined torture to her to be herded among the other women, with their
noise and quarrelling and coarse jokes. She found changes too. Her
friend the toothless lion had succumbed to old age, several of the
helpers had been changed, and Vardri was no longer near at hand to lift
her on to her horse and wait to help her dismount. Whenever he could
get away from Vladimir and the newspaper office, he was among the
spectators, and their thoughts and glances met across the wide arena's
space. Emile did not come regularly now though he took care there was
always someone sent to bring her home.

Since the night of the alarms in the Calle de Pescadores, the
Brotherhood had decided in council that they must change their place of
meeting, at any rate for a time, and that no part of the city itself
could be considered safe for the purposes of a meeting place.

They must keep to the hut up in the mountains. This had been seldom
used on account of the difficulty in getting there, and the waste of
time involved by the distance. In all respects it was safer. If they
were surprised it was not likely they would all be caught, for in the
open there was always a chance of escape. The distance and lonely
situation were all in their favour. In a small house in a narrow
street they were like trapped animals.

The custom was to start at midnight on the outskirts of the town,
collecting by degrees, and when they were well on their way the
cavalcade joined together and formed into Indian file.

Some were on horseback and some on the more sure-footed mules.

Not one among the conspirators could ride with the exception of Vardri
and Emile, and the knowledge of the art possessed by the latter was
poor enough.

The steeds of the general company went at whatever pace they chose and
in what direction they saw fit, and occasionally two or three got
wedged together in some narrow place and there was an interlude of
kicki