insult to Senorita Barenna, I throw you into the fountain, in the
deepest part, where it is wettest, just there by the marble
dolphin.'

And Conyngham indicated the exact spot with his riding-whip.

'Who is this gentleman?' asked the Alcalde. The question was in the
first place addressed to space and the gods--after a moment the
speaker turned to General Vincente.

'A prospective aide-de-camp of General Espartero.'

At the mention of the great name the Mayor of Ronda became
beautifully less and half bowed to Conyngham.

'I must do my duty,' he said with the stubbornness of a small mind.

'And what do you conceive that to be, my dear Alcalde?' inquired the
General.

'To place the Senorita Barenna under arrest unless she will hand to
me the letter she has in her possession.' Julia looked at him with
a smile. She was a brave woman, playing a dangerous game with
consummate courage, and never glanced at Conyngham, who with an
effort kept his hand away from the pocket where the letter lay
concealed. The manner in which she trusted him unreservedly and
entirely was in itself cunning enough, for it appealed to that sense
of chivalry which is not yet dead in men.

'Place me under arrest, Senor Alcalde,' she said indifferently, 'and