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She had just made this remark for perhaps the sixth time one evening when the door of the patio where she and Julia sat was thrown open, and Larralde the person indirectly referred to came towards the ladies. He was not afraid of Madame Barenna, and his tired face lightened visibly at the sight of Julia. Concha was right. According to his lights Larralde loved Julia.
We both owe Conyngham a good turn I, in reparation, you, in gratitude; for he undoubtedly saved the Senorita Barenna from imprisonment for life. Larralde shrugged his shoulders. 'Each man, he said, 'must fight for himself. 'And the majority of us for a woman as well, amended Sir John. 'At least, in Spain, chivalry is not dead. Larralde laughed. He was vain, and Sir John knew it.
At the door he seemed to stop, probably making sure that the narrow alley was deserted. A moment later he hurried past the door where the two men stood. The moon was almost clear, and by its light both the watchers recognised Larralde in a flash of thought. The next instant Esteban Larralde was running for his life with Frederick Conyngham on his heels.
That this had been offered and accepted in a polite Spanish manner as an advance of expenses to be incurred was, of course, only natural under the circumstances, but the fact remained that Esteban Larralde was no longer a picturesque conspirator, serving a failing cause with that devotion which can only be repaid later by high honours, and a post carrying with it emoluments of proportionate value.
Conyngham indicated the road with an inviting wave of the hand. 'Will you go on? he asked. Larralde sat looking at him with glittering eyes, and said nothing. 'Then I will continue my journey, said the Englishman, touching his horse lightly with the spur. The horse moved on and passed within a yard of the other. At this moment Larralde rose in his stirrups and flung himself on one side.
A dozen times some falling object crashed to earth on the Spaniard's heels, and the Englishman leapt aside to escape the rebound. Larralde was fleet of foot despite his meagre limbs, and leapt over such obstacles as he could perceive, with the agility of a monkey. He darted into the lighted doorway the entrance to the palatial mansion of an upstart politician.
He raised his hat to indicate that the Englishman's gay salutations were perceived, and pulled the wide brim well forward again. 'He will change his attitude when it becomes apparent who I am, he muttered. But Conyngham's first word would appear to suggest that Esteban Larralde was a much less impressive person than he considered himself. 'Why, it's the devout lover! he cried.
Larralde had not been to see her for many days, and had only written a hurried note from time to time in answer to her urgent request, telling her that he was well and in no danger. She now no longer knew whether he was in Toledo or not, but had sufficient knowledge of the schemes in which he was engaged to be aware of the fact that these were coming to a crisis.
And, reverendo, in the valley below is the monarchy of Spain the Bourbon cause. Father Concha, remembering his favourite maxim that no flies enter a shut mouth, was silent. 'The pebble was a letter, said Sir John. 'And Larralde has it, he added after a pause. 'And that is why you are all in Toledo why the air is thick with apprehension, and why all Spain seems to pause and wait breathlessly.
Larralde bestrode a shocking steed, and had but an indifferent seat in the saddle. Nevertheless, the dust rose beneath his horse's feet, and his spurs flashed in the sunlight as this man of many parts hurried on towards Utrera and Cordova.
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