of Cordova, where I will wait for you. I have a letter here which
you must deliver to the Senorita Barenna at Ronda without the
knowledge of anyone. It will be well that neither General Vincente
nor any other who knows you should catch sight of you in the streets
of Ronda.'

Concepcion nodded his head with much philosophy.

'Ah! these women,' he said, turning to the steaming dish of mutton
and vegetables which is almost universal in the South, 'these women,
what shoe leather they cost us!'

Leaving his servant thus profitably employed, Conyngham set out to
find the barber's shop in the Plaza de Cadiz. This he did without
difficulty, but on presenting himself at the door of Colonel
Monreal's apartment learnt that that gentleman was out.

'But,' added the servant, 'the Colonel is a man of regular habits.
He will return within the next fifteen minutes, for he dines at
five.'

Conyngham paused. He had no desire to make Colonel Monreal's
acquaintance, indeed preferred to remain without it, for he rightly
judged that Senor Larralde was engaged in affairs best left alone.

'I have a letter for the Colonel,' he said to the servant, a man of
stupid countenance. 'I will place it here upon his table, and can
no doubt trust you to see that he gets it.'

'That you can, Excellency,' replied the man, with a palm already