Nonplussed—In the Convent—A Warning—The Key—Permutations and Combinations—Light Ahead—Don Fernan’s Message One day the guerrilla camp in the mountains was thrown into some excitement by the sudden reappearance of Pepito. All the guerrilleros by this time knew something of the strange complications in which the English señor was involved. They had been constantly on the look-out for the gipsy boy whom he was so anxious to see; and when, on this sunny morning, the boy was seen bounding up the hillside, they flocked to him in a crowd, crying "Qué hay de nuevo? Qué hay de nuevo?" Pepito made them no answer. He had already caught sight of his master sitting some yards above him, and rushed forward with a piercing cry of delight. "Found, Señor!" he shouted. "Found!" Jack needed no telling who was found. "Where is she?" he asked. "Glad Señor is well, glad Señor is well!" shouted the little fellow. "The Señorita will be glad too. Oh, she will! When I told the Señorita—" "Where is she?" repeated Jack impatiently. "When I told the Señorita that Señor was ill, she jumped up; said she must come; but the old Busna looked ugly; said no; and I come to fetch Señor." "Pepito, tell me at once where she is." "Safe, at a convent near Cariñena, Señor, all among the trees and flowers. Señor can go, now he is well, and I know who will be pleased. Yes, I know!" "You’re a good boy, Pepito." He turned to Dugdale. "Grampus, when shall I be fit to ride?" "Good heavens! Not for a long time. Look here, Lumsden, I’m not going to have my cure spoilt and my career ruined by you going raiding before you’re fit. Don’t laugh. I’m in dead earnest. I’m sick and tired of playing the fool at Oxford. As soon as I get home I’m going to be a doctor. New idea, you know; fresh air and cold water. The pater will laugh himself into a fit when I tell him; but don’t you see, if you back me up, and I can show you as my first case—why, bet you the old boy comes round and doubles my allowance, to encourage me. See?" "All right!" said Jack, laughing. "But you must finish my cure quickly, for the instant I can manage it I’m going to ride over to Cariñena." "What for? What is there special about Cariñena?" "Well, I’ve a—a friend there I want specially to see." "H’m! A friend? Bet you my first year’s fees it’s a girl. Now look here, Lumsden, don’t be a fool. An Englishman oughtn’t to marry till he’s thirty at least. I’ve got ten years yet, and it won’t be too much. It takes time to be able to face a girl without flinching, and for my part I’d rather learn Greek verbs than—" "Oh, shut up!" exclaimed Jack. "Who said anything about marrying? Juanita—" "Oho! Juanita! Sorry for you, my boy; no cure for that complaint. Well, I’ll take care of you, but it’ll be a long time yet before you can ride."