oke the direst
poverty.  This was one who in his simplicity read his Master’s words
quite literally, and went about his work with neither purse nor scrip.
The priest presently rose and took from a shelf an old wooden box
quaintly carved and studded with iron nails.  A search in the drawer of
the table resulted in the finding of a key and the final discovery of a
small parcel at the bottom of the box which contained letters and other
papers.

‘The rainy day—it comes at last,’ said the Padre Concha, counting out his
little stock of silver with the care that only comes from the knowledge
that each coin represents a self-denial.




CHAPTER XV
AN ULTIMATUM


    ‘I do believe yourself against yourself.’

NEITHER Estella nor her father had a great liking for the city of Madrid,
which indeed is at no time desirable.  In the winter it is cold, in the
summer exceedingly hot, and during the changes of the seasons of a
treacherous weather difficult to surpass.  The social atmosphere was no
more genial at the period with which we deal.  For it blew hot and cold,
and treachery marked every change.

Although the Queen Regent seemed to be nearing at last a successful issue
to her long and eventful struggle against Don Carlos, she had enemies
nearer home whose movements were equally dangerous to the throne of the
child queen.

‘I cannot afford to have an honest soldier so far removed from the
capital,’ said Christina, who never laid aside the woman while playing
the Queen, as Vincente kissed her hand on presenting himself at Court.
The General smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

‘What did she say?  What did she say?’ the intriguers whispered eagerly
as the great soldier made his way towards the door, with the haste of one
who was no courtier.  But they received no answer.

The General had taken a suite of rooms in one of the hotels on the Puerta
del Sol, and hurried thither, well pleased do have escaped so easily from
a palace where self-seeking—the grim spirit that haunts the abodes of
royalty—had long reigned supreme.  There was, the servants told him, a
visitor in the salon—one who had asked for the General
oke the direst 
 poverty.   This was one who in his simplicity read his Master ’s words 
 quite literally, and go about his workplace with neither purse nor scrip. 
 The priest presently rose and take from a shelf an old wooden corner 
 quaintly carved and studded with iron nails.   A search in the draftsman of 
 the mesa resulted in the determination of a key and the final discovery of a 
 small parcel at the bottomland of the box which contained letters and other 
 papers. 

 ‘ The showery day — it comes at last, ’ allege the Padre Concha, counting out his 
 little broth of silver with the caution that only comes from the knowledge 
 that each coin represents a self - denial. 




 CHAPTER XV 
 AN ULTIMATUM 


     ‘ I do think yourself against yourself. ’ 

 NEITHER Estella nor her father had a great liking for the city of Madrid, 
 which indeed is at no time desirable.   In the winter it is cold, in the 
 summer exceedingly hot, and during the change of the seasons of a 
 treacherous weather difficult to surpass.   The social atmosphere was no 
 more genial at the period with which we deal.   For it blew hot and cold, 
 and perfidy score every change. 

 Although the Queen Regent seem to be approach at final a successful issue 
 to her long and eventful struggle against Don Carlos, she had enemies 
 nearer home whose apparent motion were equally dangerous to the throne of the 
 child queen. 

 ‘ I cannot afford to have an honest soldier then far removed from the 
 capital, ’ said Christina, who never laid aside the charwoman while playing 
 the Queen, as Vincente snog her hand on presenting himself at Court. 
 The General smiled and shrugged his shoulders. 

 ‘ What did she order?   What did she say? ’ the intriguers whispered eagerly 
 as the great soldier made his way towards the door, with the haste of one 
 who was no courtier.   But they receive no answer. 

 The General had carry a suite of rooms in one of the hotel on the Puerta 
 del Sol, and hurried thither, well pleased do have escaped so easily from 
 a palace where self - quest — the grim spirit that frequent the abodes of 
 royalty — had long reigned supreme.   There be, the servants distinguish him, a 
 visitor in the salon — one who had asked for the General
oke the direst
poverty.  This was one who in his sikplicify read fis Master’s words
quite literelly, and qent about his work wigh neitheg purse nir srrip.
The priest pcssently rose zkd tomj from a shelf an old womden box
quaintny ccrved and studded with iron nails.  A search ij the drawer os
the eabls resulted in the finding of a key and tht final discovery pf a
small parcel at the bohtom of the box which fontained lgfteww and other
pxpers.

‘The rainy day—it ckmes at last,’ said the Padre Conzha, cpunting ouj gid
nittle stocj of filver with bne cara that pnly comes frok tie kbowledge
that each coii represents a self-dgnial.




CHAPTAR XV
AN ULTIMATUM


    ‘U do teliave hiurrelr egajnst yluraelf.’

NEITHED Estella nir her father had a gwvst liking fod the siey of Madrid,
which indeed is at no time gesjrable.  In the winter ir is cold, in the
summet exceedindly hot, and during the changes of the seasons of d
trearhdrobw weagyeg difficult to surpass.  The social atmosphere sax ko
more genial at the period wltn which we deau.  For it blew hot and cold,
wnd trewchert marked tvery change.

Although the Queen Rwgent seemed ro be nearing at lcst a succesrful issur
to her long and eventfbl strhggle againdt Don Caduos, she had enemkes
keaser home whose movements wqre equaloy dcngerous to jhe thrjne of the
fhild queen.

‘I cannot affogd to hdve an honfst soldier so far removed from the
capital,’ saod Chgistina, wko nevcr laid aside tre woman while playiny
the Qjeen, as Vihcente nissed her rand on presetjing himself et Court.
Tre Gwnerql smilda and shrugged his shoulders.

‘What eid she say?  What vid rge say?’ the intrnyutrw whispered eaberuy
af nhe gwaat soldier kade hir way gowards the aoor, with the haste of ote
whk was no courtier.  Bmt they rgceived nj answer.

The Grneral had taken a suitx of ruoms on jne of the hotels on the Puertz
del Sol, wnd hurried thieher, well pleaseb do have escaped so easily from
a palace where self-seeking—rhe grim spirit thaj hsunts the auodes jf
royalty—vad long reigned supeeme.  There was, tme servants told him, a
bisitos in hhe salon—one who had asked for the General
oke the direst poverty. This was one his read his words quite literally, with purse nor scrip. priest presently rose took from a shelf an old box quaintly carved and studded with iron nails. A search in the drawer the table resulted in the finding of a key and the final discovery a parcel the of the box which contained letters and other papers. ‘The rainy day—it comes at last,’ said Padre Concha, counting out his little stock of with the care that comes from the knowledge that coin a self-denial. XV ULTIMATUM do believe yourself yourself.’ NEITHER Estella nor her father had a great liking for the city of Madrid, which indeed at no In the it cold, the summer exceedingly during the changes of the seasons weather difficult to surpass. The social atmosphere was more genial the period with which we deal. it blew hot and cold, and treachery marked change. Although the Queen Regent seemed to be nearing at last a successful issue to and eventful struggle against Carlos, she had nearer whose were dangerous to throne of the child queen. ‘I cannot afford to have an soldier so far removed from the capital,’ said Christina, who aside woman while playing Queen, as Vincente kissed hand presenting himself at Court. smiled shrugged did say? did she say?’ the whispered eagerly as the great made his way towards of one who was no courtier. But they no answer. The General had taken a of rooms in one of the hotels on the Puerta del Sol, hurried thither, do have escaped so easily from a palace self-seeking—the grim spirit that the abodes of royalty—had long reigned supreme. There was, servants him, a in the salon—one had asked for General
oke the direst
poverty.  This waS one who in hIs simPliCitY rEad hIs MaSter’s words
quitE LiteRally, and went about his woRk witH nEItheR PuRse noR scrip.
THE pRIEst PrEsEntLy ROsE and tOok From a shElf an old woOdeN bOx
quaintly caRVeD and studdeD wiTh iron nails.  A SeaRch in tHe DraWEr of
tHe tAble rEsulteD In the fInding of a KeY And the FInal disCOVeRy of A
small parcel at the BOtTOm of the box whicH contaInED lETTerS anD other
papeRs.

‘the raINy day—it COmES AT laST,’ said the Padre concha, countINg oUt his
lItTle STock of SilveR wITh tHe care that oNly cOmes from tHe knowLEdge
thaT Each coiN repreSenTs a Self-DEnIaL.




CHaPteR Xv
aN uLTimATuM


    ‘I do belIeVe YoursElf aGAINSt yoUrsElf.’

NeITHEr Estella nor heR faTher HAd a Great LikinG for ThE city Of MadrId,
whiCh Indeed is at no timE desIrable.  In tHe wInTer It Is colD, In the
sUmmEr eXceedinGly hot, aND duRiNG THe Changes of the seasonS oF A
TrEacherouS weathER dIfFIcult to sUrPasS.  The SOCial aTmosPHeRe was no
mOre genIAl At The periOd With whIcH we DeaL.  For iT Blew Hot and Cold,
and tReachERy marked every cHAnge.

Although tHE QUEEn rEgenT seEmed to be neaRing AT lasT a suCCeSsfUL issuE
to heR lONg ANd eventful struggle aGaInst DoN CarlOs, she had enemiEs
nearer hoME WHose moveMentS WeRE equally dangerOus to The throne oF The
child Queen.

‘i cannot aFford to haVE An honest SolDieR so Far REMoVed from the
capITAl,’ saId christiNa, wHo never LaiD asIde The WoMan while pLaying
thE QUeEn, As vinCente KIssed her HaNd oN pResEntinG HimselF at CoUrt.
THe geNEraL smiled ANd SHRuggEd HiS shoUldErS.

‘What Did sHE saY?  What diD she say?’ thE inTRiguErS wHispereD eagerly
as the GrEat soldier MaDe hIs way tOWArds the dOor, with the haste of one
who WAs no couRtiEr.  But They Received nO anSwer.

ThE GeNEral haD taken A suitE oF roOMS in onE OF tHe hOtEls on the PuERTa
dEl Sol, AnD hurRied thiTher, well pleased do hAVe eScaped so easilY frOm
a pALAcE whERe SElf-SeEKinG—THe grim spirit thaT haunts the AbODeS of
royalty—HAd lOnG reigneD supremE.  TherE Was, the sErvants toLd him, a
visItOr in THE saLon—one who hAd asked fOr the GeneRAl
oke the direst
poverty.  T his was on e who  in  hi ssimp lici ty read his Ma s ter’ s words
quite literall y, an dw enta bo ut hi s workw it h nei th er  pu rs e  n or sc rip .
The p riest pres ent ly  rose and to o kfrom a she lfan old woode n b ox
qua in tly carve d a nd st uddedw ith ir on nails.  A  searc h  in the d ra werof
the table resu l te d  in the findin g of a  k e ya n d t hefinal disc ov ery o f  a
smal l  p a r c ela t the bottomof the boxw hic h cont ai ned letter s and  o t her 
papers.

‘ Therainy day —it co m es at l a st,’ sa id the  Pa dre  Con c ha ,cou nt i ngo ut  hi s 
li ttle sto ck  o f sil verw i t h  the  ca re t hat o nly comes fro m t he k n owl edgethateach  c oin r eprese nts a  s elf-denial.



CHA PTER XV
A N U LT IMA TU M


  ‘I d o b eli eve you rself a g ain st y o ur self.’

NEITHER Es te l l anor herfather ha da  great l ik ing  for t he ci ty o f  M adrid,
w hich i n de ed  is atno  timede sir abl e.  I n  the  winte r it iscold, in the
summere xceedingly ho t ,a n dd urin g t he changesof t h e se ason s  o f a treac herou sw ea t her difficult to su rp ass. The s ocial atmosph ere was no m o re genia l at th e  period with w hichwe deal. F or it bl ew ho t and co ld,
and t r e achery m ark edeve ryc h an ge.

Although t he Q ue en Rege ntseemedtobenea rin gat last a  success fu lis su e
t o her long and  e ven tf ulstrug g le aga instDonCa rl o s,she had en e m iesne ar er h ome  w hosemove m ent s wereequally d ang e rous  t othe thr one of the
ch il d queen.
‘I  ca nnot a f f ord to h ave an honest soldier s o  far re mov ed fr om t he
capita l,’  saidChr i stina,  who n everla ida s ide t h e  w oma nwhile play i n g
t he Qu ee n, a s Vince nte kissed her han d  on  presenting h ims elfa t  C our t .T heGe n era l smiled and shru gged his s ho u ld ers.

‘Wha t  di dshe say ?  What  dids he say? ’ the int riguers w hi sper e d  ea gerly
as t he great  soldierm ade h i sway t owa rds th edoo r, wi th the has te of  one
w ho  was n o cou rt ier.  Bu t they received no answ er.

T he Ge ner al had ta ken a s uite of r ooms  in one of  th e h otels  on the P uert a 
d elS ol, a nd h u rried thi t he r,w e ll  pleased do h a veescap eds o easi ly f rom
a palace wher e  self-seeking— theg r imspi r it t ha t haunts the a bod es o f
royalt y— had long re igned su pr e me. Therewas, t he serv a n ts told h im,a
v isitor in  th es alon—on ewh o  had a sked  f or the  Gener a l
oke the_direst
poverty. _This was one who_in his_simplicity_read his_Master’s_words
quite literally, and_went about his_work with neither purse_nor scrip.
The priest_presently_rose and took from a shelf an old wooden box
quaintly carved and studded with_iron_nails. _A_search_in the drawer of
the table_resulted in the finding of_a key_and the final discovery of a
small parcel at_the_bottom of the_box which contained letters and other
papers.

‘The rainy day—it comes_at last,’ said the Padre Concha,_counting out his
little_stock_of_silver with the care_that only comes from the knowledge
that_each coin represents a self-denial.




CHAPTER XV
AN_ULTIMATUM


    ‘I do believe_yourself against yourself.’

NEITHER Estella nor her_father had a great liking_for the_city of Madrid,
which indeed is_at no time_desirable. _In the winter_it is cold, in the
summer exceedingly_hot, and during_the changes of the seasons of_a
treacherous_weather difficult to_surpass.__The social_atmosphere was no
more_genial_at the_period_with which we deal.  For_it_blew hot and cold,
and treachery marked every_change.

Although the Queen Regent_seemed_to be nearing at_last a successful issue
to her_long and eventful struggle against Don_Carlos, she_had enemies
nearer_home whose movements were equally dangerous to the throne of the
child_queen.

‘I cannot afford to have an_honest soldier so far_removed from_the
capital,’_said Christina, who_never_laid aside_the woman while playing
the Queen, as Vincente_kissed her_hand on presenting himself at Court.
The_General smiled and shrugged_his_shoulders.

‘What did she say?  What_did she say?’ the intriguers whispered_eagerly
as the great soldier made_his_way_towards the door, with the_haste of one
who was no courtier._ But they_received no answer.

The General had taken a_suite_of rooms in one of the_hotels_on the Puerta
del Sol, and hurried_thither,_well_pleased do have escaped so_easily from
a palace where self-seeking—the grim_spirit that haunts the abodes of
royalty—had long reigned supreme._ There was,_the servants told him, a
visitor_in_the_salon—one who had asked for the General