sighed.

"Tell us your story--perhaps we can help you," suggested Cora.

"I will make for you as little weariness as I can, Senoritas; and,
believe me, I am truly grateful to you," she said. "I do not even
dare dream zat I could go to my father," sighed Inez, "but perhaps
you will be of so great kindness as to take him a message from me. I
cannot mail it--he is not allowed to receive letters zat are not
read, and we have no secret cipher we might use."

"If we can get a letter to him, rest assured we shall do so,"
promised Belle, though her sister rather raised her eyebrows at the
rashness of the pledge.

"I cannot go into all ze details of ze politics, for I know zem not,"
went on the Spaniard. "All I painfully know is zat my father was
thrown into prison, and our family and home broken up. My mother and
I came to New York--to relatives, but alas! my, poor mother died. I
was left alone. I was desolate.

"I had learned to make lace, and my friends thought I could sell it,
so I began to make zat my trade. I thought I could save enough to go
back to my father, and the beloved island--perhaps to free him."

"How did you hope to do that?" asked Cora.

"Because, in New York, I found one of his political party--himself an
exile, who gave me what you call documents--I know not ze term--"