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of the priest as she answered gravely；
〃I believe so。 But I cannot see what that has to do with the
detention of the others。〃
〃Much； perhaps。 It has been said that you alone； my child； were in
the confidence of this man。〃
〃Who dared say that？〃 exclaimed Miss Keene in English； forgetting
herself in her indignation。
〃If it's anything meanit's Mrs。 Brimmer； I'll bet a cooky；〃 said
Mrs。 Markham； whose linguistic deficiencies had debarred her from
the previous conversation。
〃You have only；〃 continued the priest； without noticing the
interruption； 〃to tell us what you know of this Hurlstone's plans；
of his complicity with Senor Perkins； or；〃 he added significantly；
〃his opposition to themto insure that perfect justice shall be
done to all。〃
Relieved that the question involved no disclosure of her only
secret regarding Hurlstone； Miss Keene was about to repeat the
truth that she had no confidential knowledge of him； or of his
absurd alleged connection with Senor Perkins； when； with an
instinct of tact； she hesitated。 Might she not serve them all
even Hurlstone himselfby saying nothing； and leaving the burden
of proof to their idiotic accusers？ Was she altogether sure that
Hurlstone was entirely ignorant of Senor Perkins' plans； or might
he not have refused； at the last moment； to join in the conspiracy；
and so left the ship？
〃I will not press you for your answer now；〃 said the priest gently。
〃But you will not； I know； keep back anything that may throw a
light on this sad affair； and perhaps help to reinstate your friend
Mr。 Hurlstone in his REAL position。〃
〃If you ask me if I believe that Mr。 Hurlstone had anything to do
with this conspiracy； I should say； unhesitatingly； that I do NOT。
And more； I believe that he would have jumped overboard rather than
assent to so infamous an act；〃 said the young girl boldly。
〃Then you think he had no other motive for leaving the ship？〃 said
the priest slowly。
〃Decidedly not。〃 She stopped； a curious anxious look in the
Padre's persistent eyes both annoyed and frightened her。 〃What
other motive could he have？〃 she said coldly。
Father Esteban's face lightened。
〃I only ask because I think you would have known it。 Thank you for
the assurance all the same； and in return I promise you I will use
my best endeavors with the Comandante for your friend the Captain
Bunker。 Adieu； my daughter。 Adieu； Madame Markham；〃 he said； as；
taking the arm of Don Miguel； he turned with him and the doctor
towards the guard…room。 The secretary lingered behind for a
moment。
〃Fear nothing；〃 he said； in whispered English to Miss Keene。 〃I；
Ruy Sanchez； shall make you free of Capitano Bunker's cell；〃 and
passed on。
〃Well；〃 said Mrs。 Markham； when the two women were alone again。 〃I
don't pretend to fathom the befogged brains of Todos Santos； but as
far as I can understand their grown…up child's play； they are
making believe this unfortunate Mr。 Hurlstone； who may be dead for
all we know； is in revolt against the United States Government；
which is supposed to be represented by Senor Perkins and the
Excelsiorthink of that！〃
〃But Perkins signed himself of the Quinquinambo navy！〃 said Miss
Keene wonderingly。
〃That is firmly believed by those idiots to be one of OUR States。
Remember they know nothing of what has happened anywhere in the
last fifty years。 I dare say they never heard of filibusters like
Perkins； and they couldn't comprehend him if they had。 I've given
up trying to enlighten them； and I think they're grateful for it。
It makes their poor dear heads ache。〃
〃And it is turning mine！ But； for Heaven's sake； tell me what part
I am supposed to act in this farce！〃 said Miss Keene。
〃You are the friend and colleague of Hurlstone； don't you see？〃
said Mrs。 Markham。 〃You are two beautiful young patriotsdon't
blush； my dear！endeared to each other and a common cause； and
ready to die for your country in opposition to Perkins； and the
faint…heartedness of such neutrals as Mrs。 Brimmer； Miss Chubb； the
poor Captain； and all the men whom they have packed off to San
Antonio。〃
〃Impossible！〃 said Miss Keene； yet with an uneasy feeling that it
not only was possible； but that she herself had contributed
something to the delusion。 〃But how do they account for my
friendship with YOUyou； who are supposed to be a correspondent
an accomplice of Perkins？〃
〃No； no；〃 returned Mrs。 Markham； with a half serious smile； 〃I am
not allowed that honor。 I am presumed to be only the disconsolate
Dulcinea of Perkins； abandoned by HIM； pitied by you； and converted
to the true faithat least； that is what I make out from the
broken English of that little secretary of the Commander。〃
Miss Keene winced。
〃That's all my fault； dear；〃 she said； suddenly entwining her arms
round Mrs。 Markham； and hiding her half embarrassed smile on the
shoulder of her strong…minded friend； 〃they suggested it to me； and
I half assented； to save you。 Please forgive me。〃
〃Don't think I am blaming you； my dear Eleanor；〃 said Mrs。 Markham。
〃For Heaven's sake assent to the wildest and most extravagant
hypothesis they can offer； if it will leave us free to arrange our
own plans for getting away。 I begin to think we were not a very
harmonious party on the Excelsior； and most of our troubles here
are owing to that。 We forget we have fallen among a lot of
original saints； as guileless and as unsophisticated as our first
parents； who know nothing of our customs and antecedents。 They
have accepted us on what they believe to be our own showing。 From
first to last we've underrated them； forgetting they are in the
majority。 We can't expect to correct the ignorance of fifty years
in twenty…four hours； and I； for one； sha'n't attempt it。 I'd much
rather trust to the character those people would conceive of me
from their own consciousness than to one Mrs。 Brimmer or Mr。
Winslow would give of me。 From this moment I've taken a firm
resolve to leave my reputation and the reputation of my friends
entirely in their hands。 If you are wise you will do the same。
They are inclined to worship youdon't hinder them。 My belief is；
if we only take things quietly； we might find worse places to be
stranded on than Todos Santos。 If Mrs。 Brimmer and those men of
ours； who； I dare say； have acted as silly as the Mexicans
themselves； will only be quiet； we can have our own way here yet。〃
〃And poor Captain Bunker？〃 said Miss Keene。
〃It seems hard to say it； but； in my opinion； he is better under
lock and key； for everybody's good； at present。 He'd be a
firebrand in the town if he got away。 Meantime； let us go to our
room。 It is about the time when everybody is taking a siesta； and
for two hours； thank Heaven！ we're certain nothing more can
happen。〃
〃I'll join you in a moment；〃 said Miss Keene。
Her quick ear had caught the sound of voices approaching。 As Mrs。
Markham disappeared in the passage； the Commander and his party
reappeared from the guard…room； taking leave of Padre Esteban。 The
secretary； as he passed Miss Keene； managed to add to his formal
salutation the whispered words；〃When the Angelus rings I will
await you before the grating of his prison。〃
Padre Esteban was too preoccupied to observe this incident。 As
soon as he quitted the Presidio； he hastened to the Mission with a
disquieting fear that his strange guest might have vanished。 But；
crossing the silent refectory； and opening the door of the little
apartment； he was relieved to find him stretched on the pallet in a
profound slumber。 The peacefulness of the venerable walls had laid
a gentle finger on his weary eyelids。
The Padre glanced round the little cell； and back again at the
handsome suffering face that seemed to have found surcease and rest
in the narrow walls； with a stirring of regret。 But the next
moment he awakened the sleeper； and in the briefest； almost frigid；
sentences； related the events of the morning。
The young man rose to his feet with a bitter laugh。
〃You see；〃 he said； 〃God is against me！ And yet a few hours ago I
dared to think that He had guided me to a haven of rest and
forgetfulness！
〃Have you told the truth to him and to me？〃 said the priest
sternly； 〃or have youa mere political refugeetaken advantage of
an old man's weakness to forge a foolish lie of sentimental
passion？〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said Hurlstone； turning upon him almost
fiercely。
The priest rose； and drawing a folded paper from his bosom； opened
it before the eyes of his indignant guest。
〃Remember what you told me last night in the sacred confidences of
yonder holy church； and hear what you really are from the lips of
the Council of Todos Santos。〃
Smoothing out the paper； he read slowly as follows：
〃Whereas； it being presented to an Emergency Coun