been furnished with an escort by them."

"I have only his word and yours as to that," Cortingos said, insolently.
"I am acting under the orders of the supreme authority of this province."

"You are doing your duty, no doubt," the lieutenant said, "in making these
inquiries. This officer has answered them, and I will answer any further
questions if I consider them to be reasonable."

"We wish, in the first place," Cortingos said, "to examine any official
passes you may have received."

"Our official passes are our uniforms," Herrara replied, haughtily.

"Uniforms have been useful for purposes of disguise before now," Cortingos
replied. "I again ask you to show me your authority."

"Here is an authority," Terence broke in. "Here is a despatch from General
Sir John Cradock to General Romana."

"Ah, ah, a Spaniard."

"A Spanish general, a marquis and grandee of Spain, who has been fighting
the French, and who is now with a portion of his army preparing to defend
the passes into Portugal."

Cortingos held out his hand for the paper, but Terence put it back again
into the breast-pocket of his uniform.

"No, sir," he said; "this communication is for the Marquis of Romana, and