o prevent our talking
together." Arithelli snatched eagerly at his words. They had given
her the clue she wanted.

"Yes, that's it. It's dangerous for me if we are seen often together.
I've done something so mad and foolish, Vardri, you must help me to put
it right,--you _can_. Those letters you have written me saying all
sorts of things against the Cause,--I left a piece of one about
somewhere,--I don't know where,--and Sobrenski found it. He has just
told me that in about half an hour's time before all the rest of them
leave, he is going to send on one of the men in advance. He will get
down to the town before us, go to my rooms and yours and collect all
the letters that have passed between us; and use them, as then he will
have what he has always wanted,--the proofs that we are what he would
call traitors. And when he has these proofs, neither of us will be
safe for an instant. It will mean death to both of us sooner or later.
But even Sobrenski can't murder us without sufficient evidence. He
will be obliged to make some formal parade of justice to put it all
before the rest of the society. If he doesn't get our letters he will
not have sufficient evidence."

"But if we go away together to-night, as we intended? We've got a
start. We can take the best horses. That is the best plan."

Arithelli shook her head. "Listen to me, dear, and believe in a
woman's wisdom for once. If we go to-night and together, we are bound
to be recaptured before we are out of Barcelona. By doing what I
suggest we avoid suspicion, we give ourselves breathing-space, time to
arrange a disguise, to think of all sorts of things that we have
overlooked. We have everything in our favour to-night, Sobrenski does
not know you are here yet. If you go soon you will get away without
his having seen you at all. Here is the key of my room. Go there
first, and you will find all your own letters in a wooden box in my big
trunk. That isn't locked. Open it and burn them all. Then go on to
your own room, do the same with yours and stay there. If they raid my
room, they will find nothing suspicious. You could pretend you were
ill, and that's the only reason you haven't come tonight, and I am here
doing my work as usual. Nothing could be less suspicious. Then when
they are off their guard we can escape."

The minutes were flying. Death thrusting his lean face before the rosy
face of Love. Sobrenski's phrase sounded in her ears l