The Andalusian raised a hand in protestation.
"It is not necessary that you tell me anything, Señor. I have seen
enough. And I know the King was not worth the price."
Benton shook his head. "Are you going on with me, now that you know what
you know?"
"Señor, it grieves me that you should ask. I told you I was at your
disposition." The Spaniard went on talking rapidly, talking with lips
and eyes and gesture. "When you came to Cadiz and took me with you on
the small steamer, I did not ask why. I thought it was as Americans are
interested in all things--or perhaps because the many million pesetas
of the Señor's fortune might be affected by changing the map of
Europe. No matter. You were interested. It was enough."
He swept both hands apart.
"But had I known then what to-day has taught me, I should have held my
tongue that evening when the Pretender plotted in the café."
"To-morrow," said Benton slowly, "there will be festivity. I can't be
here then. I must leave to-night--but you, amigo mio, you must stay
and watch. If Lapas is taken prisoner and silenced there will be no one
in Puntal who will suspect you. No one knew me and if I leave at once,
the Countess will hardly learn who was the mysterious man to whom she
gave a ring."
"But, Señor,"--Blanco was dubious--"would it not be better that I
should be with you?"
"You can serve me better by remaining here. I would rather have you near
Her."
The man from Cadiz nodded and crossed himself.
"I am pledged, Señor," he asserted.
"Then," continued the American, "for a time we must separate. The Isis
will sail to-night."
The men walked together to the terminal station of the small ratchet
railway. When they parted the Spaniard and the yachtsman had arranged a
telegraph code which might be used by the small but complete wireless
equipment of the Isis. An hour later the launch from the yacht took
him aboard at the ancient stone jetty, where the fruit-venders and
wine-sellers shouted their jargon, and the seaweed clung to the landing
stage.
* * * * *
When Karyl had returned to the Palace after the inspection of the
Fortress do Freres, he had sent word at once to that part of the
Palace where Cara had her suite. She was accompanied by her aunt, the
Duchess of Apsberg, and her English cousin, Lilian Carrowes, who also
knew something of the life in America with the Bristows.