to their
friends in private, or addressed small assemblies of persons who
appeared disposed to receive it.

CHAPTER THREE.

A NARROW ESCAPE.

The young couple, now formally betrothed, appeared everywhere together
in public, and it was understood that before long their marriage would
be solemnised. Many of the places, however, frequented by people of
their rank, they avoided--the bull-fights and the religious spectacles--
the one tending to brutalise the people, the other to foster the
grossest superstition. Among the houses at which they visited at
Seville was that of the widow Dona Isabel de Baena. Her guests,
however, it was understood, only came by invitation. Most of them
approached her house cautiously--sometimes alone, or only two or three
together--generally when it grew dusk, and muffled in their cloaks so
that their features could not be discerned. Often there was a large
assemblage of persons at Dona Isabel's house thus collected, though the
spies of the Inquisition had not observed them assembling. Though
sedate and generally serious in their manner, they were neither sad nor
cast down; indeed, a cheerfulness prevailed among the company not often
seen in a Spanish assembly. Dona Leonor was there with her mother. Don
Antonio Herezuelo set out from his lodgings with the purpose of going
there also. He had not gone far when, suddenly turning his head, he
found that he was closely followed. Under ordinary circumstances this
would have caused him little concern, but at present he knew the
importance of being cautious. He remembered that by going down a lane
near at hand he might return home again. This he did, and walking on
rapidly, got rid, as he supposed, of his pursuer. After remaining a
short time he again sallied forth, and taking a circuitous way to Dona
Isabel's house, arrived there safely, and, as he hoped, without being
observed. Leonor had become anxious about him. She told him so when he
arrived.

"Do not on similar occasions fear, my beloved," he answered, with that
brave smile which frequently lighted up his countenance. "God protects
those who put their whole trust in Him--not a half trust, but the whole
entire trust."

"Yes, I know, and yet surely many of those who were tortured and
suffered in the flames in the Low Countries put their trust in Him,"
answered Leonor. "I shudder when I think of the agonies those poor
people must have endured."

Again that smile came ove