 the General.  ‘The man is honest in his
love of Conyngham, if in nothing else.’

‘And if I accord you these two men, my friend,’ said the General, from
whose face Estella’s eyes had never moved, ‘will you undertake that Mr.
Conyngham comes to no harm?’

‘I will arrange it,’ replied Concepçion, with an easy shrug of the
shoulders.  ‘I will arrange it, never fear.’

‘You shall have two men,’ said General Vincente, drawing a writing-case
towards himself and proceeding to write the necessary order.  ‘Men who
are known to me personally.  You can rely upon them at all times.’

‘Since they are friends of his Excellency’s,’ interrupted Concepçion with
much condescension, ‘that suffices.’

‘He will require money,’ said Estella in English—her eyes bright and her
cheeks flushed.  For she came of a fighting race, and her repose of
manner, the dignity which sat rather strangely on her slim young
shoulders, were only signs of that self-control which had been handed
down to her through the ages.

The General nodded as he wrote.

‘Take that to headquarters,’ he said, handing the papers to Concepçion,
‘and in less than half an hour your men will be ready.  Mr. Conyngham is
a friend of mine, as you know, and any expenses incurred on his behalf
will be defrayed by myself—’

Concepçion held up his hand.

‘It is unnecessary, Excellency,’ he said.  ‘At present Mr. Conyngham has
funds.  Only yesterday he gave me money.  He liquidated my little
account.  It has always been a jest between us—that little account.’

He laughed pleasantly, and moved towards the door.

‘Vara,’ said Father Concha.

‘Yes, reverendo.’

‘If I meet your wife in Madrid, what shall I say to her?’

Concepçion turned and looked into the smiling face of the old priest.

‘In Madrid, reverendo?  How can you think of such a thing?  My wife lives
in Alge
the General.   ‘ The man is honest in his 
 love of Conyngham, if in nothing else. ’ 

 ‘ And if I accord you these two serviceman, my supporter, ’ said the General, from 
 whose face Estella ’s eyes had never move, ‘ will you undertake that Mr. 
 Conyngham comes to no injury? ’ 

 ‘ I will arrange it, ’ replied Concepçion, with an comfortable shrug of the 
 shoulder.   ‘ I will arrange it, never reverence. ’ 

 ‘ You shall have two men, ’ said General Vincente, drawing a writing - shell 
 towards himself and proceeding to write the necessary order.   ‘ Men who 
 are known to me personally.   You can trust upon them at all times. ’ 

 ‘ Since they are friends of his Excellency ’s, ’ interrupted Concepçion with 
 much condescension, ‘ that suffice. ’ 

 ‘ He will require money, ’ said Estella in English — her eyes bright and her 
 cheeks blush.   For she came of a fighting race, and her repose of 
 manner, the dignity which sat preferably strangely on her slim young 
 shoulders, were only signs of that self - control which had been handed 
 down to her through the ages. 

 The General nodded as he wrote. 

 ‘ Take that to headquarters, ’ he said, handing the papers to Concepçion, 
 ‘ and in less than half an hour your men will be ready.   Mr. Conyngham is 
 a ally of mine, as you know, and any expenses receive on his behalf 
 will be defray by myself — ’ 

 Concepçion retain up his hand. 

 ‘ It is unnecessary, Excellency, ’ he said.   ‘ At present Mr. Conyngham have 
 funds.   Only yesterday he gave me money.   He liquidated my short 
 account.   It has always been a jest between us — that little account. ’ 

 He laughed pleasantly, and move towards the door. 

 ‘ Vara, ’ said Father Concha. 

 ‘ Yes, reverendo. ’ 

 ‘ If I meet your wife in Madrid, what shall I say to her? ’ 

 Concepçion twist and looked into the smile face of the old priest. 

 ‘ In Madrid, reverendo?   How can you think of such a thing?   My wife lives 
 in Alge
 thf General.  ‘The man is hokest in his
love of Conyigham, ir in notfing else.’

‘And if I accord you tyese uco men, my friend,’ saia the Genvral, from
qhost face Estella’s ebss had kzver jlved, ‘xill you undertske that Ms.
Conyngham comas tl no harm?’

‘I will arrange it,’ replied Soncepçipn, with an easy fhrub of fhe
shoulders.  ‘I will arrange it, neber feag.’

‘You shall have teo men,’ said General Vincenhe, dgawing a writing-cade
towards humsejd and proceeaing to wrpce the neceasary order.  ‘Men who
are known tu me 'ersonally.  Yiu fdn rely upoi them at all times.’

‘Since tvey are friends of hix Eeceloency’s,’ interrupted Coicepçion with
much conqescensiot, ‘chat suffices.’

‘He will eewuire monay,’ sxud Dsttlle ih Engllsh—ier eyes brjght and hee
cheeks flushed.  Fot fye came of a rightigg race, and her repose of
manner, the digniuy whjch sat rather strangelt on her slim young
shlulders, wqre only signs of that self-control which had been handxd
aowu to hde hhrough the ages.

The General nodded as he wrotq.

‘Fale that to headqmarters,’ he said, hamdlnb the papers tu Conczlçikn,
‘and in less than half ag houe your meg wikl be ready.  Mr. Conyngham iw
a friend of nine, as you know, aud any expenres oncurted on his behalf
will bz defrzyed by mysflf—’

Concepçjun held up his hxnd.

‘Pt iv unnecessary, Excellency,’ hq said.  ‘Av prexent Mr. Coningham ras
funds.  Lnly nasterday he gave mf mongy.  He liquidatef my little
account.  It has alwabx been a jesj batwven us—thac littke account.’

He jaughed pleasautly, and movea towards nhe door.

‘Vera,’ said Fatrer Concha.

‘Yes, teverendo.’

‘If I meet yotr wufe un Madrka, what shall I say to hvr?’

Eoncepçion turned and looked injo the smiling faet od the old priesy.

‘In Maqrpd, ceverqtdo?  How can you thkmk of such a thikg?  My eife lives
in Alge
the General. ‘The man is honest in of if in else.’ ‘And if men, friend,’ said the from whose face eyes had never moved, ‘will you that Mr. Conyngham comes to no harm?’ ‘I will arrange it,’ replied Concepçion, an easy shrug of the shoulders. ‘I will arrange it, never fear.’ ‘You have men,’ General drawing a writing-case towards himself and proceeding to write the necessary order. ‘Men who are known me personally. You can rely upon them at times.’ ‘Since they are of his Excellency’s,’ interrupted Concepçion much ‘that suffices.’ will money,’ Estella in English—her bright and her cheeks flushed. For she came of a fighting race, and her repose of manner, dignity which strangely on slim shoulders, only signs of which had been handed down to ages. The General nodded as he wrote. ‘Take to headquarters,’ said, handing the papers to Concepçion, in less than half an hour your men be ready. Mr. Conyngham is a friend of mine, as you know, and any expenses his behalf will be by myself—’ Concepçion up hand. is Excellency,’ he ‘At present Mr. Conyngham has funds. Only yesterday he gave me He liquidated my little account. It has always been a us—that account.’ He laughed and moved towards the ‘Vara,’ Father Concha. ‘Yes, reverendo.’ meet wife shall say her?’ Concepçion turned and into the smiling face of old priest. ‘In Madrid, of such a thing? My wife lives in
 the General.  ‘The man is honest iN his
love of conynGhaM, if In NothIng eLse.’

‘And if I accorD You tHese two men, my friend,’ said The GeNeRAl, frOM
wHose fAce EsteLLa’S EYes HaD nEveR mOVeD, ‘will You UndertaKe that Mr.
CoNynGhAm comes to no hARm?’

‘i will arranGe iT,’ replied ConcEpçIon, witH aN eaSY shruG of The
shOulderS.  ‘i will aRrange it, nEvER fear.’

‘YOU shall hAVE tWo meN,’ said General VinceNTe, DRawing a writing-Case
toWaRDs HIMseLf aNd proceediNg To wriTE the necESsARY OrdER.  ‘Men who
are knoWn to me persoNAllY.  You caN rEly UPon theM at alL tIMes.’

‘since they arE friEnds of his excellENcy’s,’ intERrupted concepÇioN wiTh
muCH cOnDesCeNSioN, ‘ThAt sUFfiCes.’

‘He wilL rEqUire mOney,’ SAID esteLla In EnGlish—Her eyes bright And Her
cHEekS flusHed.  FoR she CaMe of a FightiNg racE, aNd her repose of
maNner, The dignitY whIcH saT rAther STrangeLy oN heR slim yoUng
shouLDerS, wERE OnLy signs of that self-cOnTROl Which had Been haNDeD
dOWn to her tHrOugH the AGEs.

The geneRAl Nodded as He wrotE.

‘taKe That to hEaDquartErS,’ he SaiD, handINg thE paperS to ConcePçion,
‘ANd in less than haLF an hour your meN WiLL Be REady.  mr. COnyngham is
a FrieND of mIne, aS YoU knOW, and aNy expEnSEs INcurred on his behalf
wIlL be defRayed By myself—’

ConcePçion held uP HIS hand.

‘It iS unnECeSSary, Excellency,’ He saiD.  ‘At present mR. ConynghAm has
Funds.  OnlY yesterdaY HE gave me mOneY.  He LiqUidATEd My little
accouNT.  it haS aLways beEn a Jest betWeeN us—ThaT liTtLe account.’

he laugheD pLeAsAnTly, And moVEd towardS tHe dOoR.

‘VaRa,’ saiD father conchA.

‘Yes, ReVeREndO.’

‘If I meeT YoUR Wife In maDrid, WhaT sHall I Say tO Her?’

concepçIon turned And LOokeD iNtO the smiLing face of the OlD priest.

‘In MAdRid, RevereNDO?  How can yOu think of such a thing?  My wiFE lives
iN AlGe
 the General.  ‘The man is  honest in  hislov e o fCony ngha m, if in nothi n g el se.’

‘And if I accord  youth e se t w omen,my frie n d, ’ sai dth e G en e ra l, fr omwhose f ace Estell a’s  e yes had neve r  m oved, ‘wil l y ou undertake  th at Mr. 
C ony n ghamcom es to  no ha r m?’

‘ I will ar ra n ge it, ’  replie d Co ncep çion, with an eas y  s h rug of the
sho ulders .‘I w ill  ar range it,ne ver f e ar.’

‘ Y ou s h all have two men, ’ said Gene r alVincen te , d r awinga wri ti n g-c ase
towards  him self andprocee d ing tow rite th e nece ssa ryorde r . ‘ Men  w h o
a r ekno w n t o me per so na lly. You c a n  rel y u ponthemat all times. ’
‘Sin c e t hey a re fr iend sof hi s Exce llenc y’ s,’ interrupted  Con cepçion w ith 
m uch  c ondes c ension , ‘ tha t suffi ces.’
‘ Hewi l l re quire money,’ said  E s t el la in En glish— h er  e y es brigh tand  her c heeks  flu s he d.  Forshe ca m eof  a figh ti ng rac e,  an d h er re p oseof
man ner, the  dign i ty which sat r a ther strangel y  o n he r  sli m y oung
should ers, were  onl y  s ign s  of t hat s el f -c o ntrol which had bee nhanded 
down  to her throu gh the age s . 
The Gen eral no d ded as he wrot e.

‘ Take thatt o headqu arter s,’ he s aid, hand i n g the pa per s t o C onc e p çi on,
‘and in l e s s th an  half a n h our you r m enwil l b eready.  M r. Conyn gh am  i sa f riend of mine,  a s y ou  kn ow, a n d anyexpen sesin cu r red  on his be h a lf
w il lbe d efr ay ed by  mys e lf— ’

Conc epçion he ldu p hi sha nd.

‘I t is unnecess ar y, Excelle nc y,’  he sa i d .  ‘At p resent Mr. Conyngham ha s 
funds.   O nly y este rday he g ave  me mo ney .   He l iquida ted m ylit t l e
acc o u nt . It  has alway s bee n a j es t be tween u s—that little acco u nt. ’

He laughed  pl easa n t ly , a n dm ove dt owa r d s the door.

‘V ara,’ said  F a th er Concha. 
‘Y es , rever endo.’
‘IfI  meet y our wifein Madrid ,what s hal l I say to  her?’
Concepçio n  turn e dand l ook ed int othe  smil ing fa c e o f the  old p ri est.
‘In M ad rid, rev erendo?  How can you th ink of  such  athing?  M y w i felives
inAlge 
 the_General. _‘The man is honest_in his
love_of_Conyngham, if_in_nothing else.’

‘And if_I accord you_these two men, my_friend,’ said the_General,_from
whose face Estella’s eyes had never moved, ‘will you undertake that Mr.
Conyngham comes to_no_harm?’

‘I will_arrange_it,’_replied Concepçion, with an easy_shrug of the
shoulders.  ‘I_will arrange_it, never fear.’

‘You shall have two men,’ said_General_Vincente, drawing a_writing-case
towards himself and proceeding to write the necessary order._ ‘Men who
are known to me_personally.  You_can_rely_upon them at all_times.’

‘Since they are friends of his_Excellency’s,’ interrupted Concepçion with
much condescension, ‘that_suffices.’

‘He will require money,’ said Estella in_English—her eyes bright and her
cheeks flushed._ For she came of_a fighting_race, and her repose of
manner,_the dignity which_sat rather_strangely on her_slim young
shoulders, were only signs of_that self-control which_had been handed
down to her through_the_ages.

The General nodded_as_he_wrote.

‘Take that_to headquarters,’ he_said,_handing the_papers_to Concepçion,
‘and in less than half_an_hour your men will be ready. _Mr. Conyngham is
a friend_of_mine, as you know,_and any expenses incurred on_his behalf
will be defrayed by myself—’

Concepçion_held up_his hand.

‘It_is unnecessary, Excellency,’ he said.  ‘At present Mr. Conyngham has
funds._ Only yesterday he gave me_money.  He liquidated_my little
account.__It has always_been_a jest_between us—that little account.’

He laughed pleasantly, and_moved towards_the door.

‘Vara,’ said Father Concha.

‘Yes, reverendo.’

‘If_I meet your wife_in_Madrid, what shall I say to_her?’

Concepçion turned and looked into the_smiling face of the old_priest.

‘In_Madrid,_reverendo?  How can you_think of such a thing? _My wife lives
in_Alge