'A love letter from a gentleman you have never seen before?' he said
with a forced laugh.

'Pardon me, Senor Alcalde, this gentleman travelled in the same ship
with my mother and myself from Bordeaux to Algeciras, and he saved
my life.'

She cast a momentary glance at Conyngham; which would have sealed
his fate had the fiery Mr. Larralde been there to see it. The
Prefect paused, somewhat taken aback. There was a momentary
silence, and every moment gave Julia and Conyngham time to think.
Then the Alcalde turned to Conyngham.

'It will give me the greatest pleasure,' he said, 'to learn that I
have been mistaken. I have only to ask this gentleman's
confirmation of what the senorita has said. It is true, senor, that
you surreptitiously handed to the Senorita Barenna a letter
expressing your love?'

'Since the senorita has done me the honour of confessing it, I must
ask you to believe it,' answered Conyngham steadily and coldly.



CHAPTER IX. A WAR OF WIT.



'La discretion est l'art du mensonge.'