jovially.

'It is not so surprising as you think.'

'Oh!'

There was no mistaking Larralde's manner, and the Englishman's gay
blue eyes hardened suddenly and rather surprisingly.

'No, I have followed you. I want that letter.'

'Well, as it happens, Senor Larralde, I have not got your letter,
and if I had I am not quite sure that I would give it to you. Your
conduct in the matter has not been over-nice, and, to tell you the
truth, I don't think much of a man who gets strangers and women to
do his dirty work for him.'

Larralde stroked his moustache with a half-furtive air of contempt.

'I should have given the confounded letter to the Alcalde of Ronda
if it had not been that a lady would have suffered for it, and let
you take your chance, Senor Larralde.'

Larralde shrugged his shoulders.

'You would not have given it to the Alcalde of Ronda,' he said in a
sneering voice, 'because you want it yourself. You require it in
order to make your peace with Estella Vincente.'

'We are not going to talk of Senorita Vincente,' said Conyngham