The Lighted Match

The Andalusian raised a hand in protestation.

"It is not necessary that you tell me anything, Señor. I have seen

enough. And I know the King was not worth the price."

Benton shook his head. "Are you going on with me, now that you know what

you know?"

"Señor, it grieves me that you should ask. I told you I was at your

disposition." The Spaniard went on talking rapidly, talking with lips

and eyes and gesture. "When you came to Cadiz and took me with you on

the small steamer, I did not ask why. I thought it was as Americans are

interested in all things--or perhaps because the many million pesetas

of the Señor's fortune might be affected by changing the map of

Europe. No matter. You were interested. It was enough."

He swept both hands apart.

"But had I known then what to-day has taught me, I should have held my

tongue that evening when the Pretender plotted in the café."

"To-morrow," said Benton slowly, "there will be festivity. I can't be

here then. I must leave to-night--but you, amigo mio, you must stay

and watch. If Lapas is taken prisoner and silenced there will be no one

in Puntal who will suspect you. No one knew me and if I leave at once,

the Countess will hardly learn who was the mysterious man to whom she

gave a ring."

"But, Señor,"--Blanco was dubious--"would it not be better that I

should be with you?"

"You can serve me better by remaining here. I would rather have you near

Her."

The man from Cadiz nodded and crossed himself.

"I am pledged, Señor," he asserted.

"Then," continued the American, "for a time we must separate. The Isis

will sail to-night."

The men walked together to the terminal station of the small ratchet

railway. When they parted the Spaniard and the yachtsman had arranged a

telegraph code which might be used by the small but complete wireless

equipment of the Isis. An hour later the launch from the yacht took

him aboard at the ancient stone jetty, where the fruit-venders and

wine-sellers shouted their jargon, and the seaweed clung to the landing

stage.

* * * * *

When Karyl had returned to the Palace after the inspection of the

Fortress do Freres, he had sent word at once to that part of the

Palace where Cara had her suite. She was accompanied by her aunt, the

Duchess of Apsberg, and her English cousin, Lilian Carrowes, who also

knew something of the life in America with the Bristows.