As he went the round of his district, before proceeding to convey his nightly report to Palafox, Pablo Quintanar, the guerrilla leader, came up and made a complaint against his subordinate Antonio. He had been attacked, he said, and nearly murdered by Antonio for refusing to reopen the barricade thrown across the gap in the wall of the Casa Vega. "Did you not receive my order?" demanded Jack. "Your order was to hold the barricade, Señor." "But you opened a gap to let in my men. I sent the order by one of the Murcian tiradores." "Yes, indeed, and the men came through one by one, and when the last was through I closed the barricade." "And shut me out!" Jack looked sharply at the man, but as usual was unable to catch his eye. "I waited for the Señor," he protested, "five, ten, twenty minutes; but he did not come. What was I to think but that he was dead? If I had known—" "You would have acted otherwise. Well, as you did make so unfortunate a—mistake, perhaps the less you say about Antonio’s attempt to mend it the better. Buenas noches, hombre!" Jack turned on his heel, and, wondering what conceivable motive Pablo Quintanar could have for doing him a hurt, set off for the Castle Aljafferia. *CHAPTER XXIV* *"A bon Chat, bon Rat"* Under a Cloud—The Door—Padre Consolacion—A Daughter of Spain—The House in the Lane—An Unexpected Visitor—A Gambit—In the Shadow—The Worm Turns—A Blue Paper—The Simple Way As he made his way through the throng of people filling the corridors and halls of the palace, Jack could not but observe that the looks he met were rather of suspicion than friendliness. He was known by sight to many of the habitués of the castle. Tio Jorge had never tired of praising his exploits and acclaiming him as a staunch friend of Spain; and yet many now scowled on him, whispered to each other as he passed; one or two even fingered their knives. Surprised at this change of attitude, he was still more surprised to find it reflected in the bearing of Palafox and Don Basilio and other members of the Junta who were present when he made his report. Palafox listened to him coldly, spoke a few words of the faintest praise, and dismissed him without a sign of real approval or encouragement. Tio Jorge met him as he was re-entering the town by the Porta Portillo, and Jack felt a sense of relief when he saw that the big peasant’s greeting was cordial as ever. After an exchange of news Tio Jorge, who had scanned his face anxiously, said bluntly: "I am a plain man, Señor. You will answer me a plain question." "Certainly, anything in reason," said Jack in surprise.