Burroughs and I went ahead, Simmons, got up as a rather theatrical Portuguese fisherman, was behind us, and Bryant, who apparently was the coolest of the four, followed on the opposite side of the street. We had barely reached the neighbourhood of Dagara’s house when Miralda drove up in a hired carriage. She stopped the driver a hundred yards short of the street and got out, leaving the driver to wait. My first step was to get rid of the carriage, by telling the man he would not be wanted and paying his fare with the addition of a liberal tip. In a few minutes Miralda returned and was profoundly surprised to find me instead of the carriage, and her hand trembled as she put it in mine. “I have sent your carriage away. I knew you were coming to M. Dagara’s house and the reason, and I was compelled to speak to you alone.” “You have frightened me. What is the matter?” “I am only going to ask you to trust me. You will?” “Need you ask that?” and her eyes flashed in reproach. “But I may be seen with you,” she added, glancing round. “I am not going to keep you long enough to explain everything--only to ask you two questions. I will tell you everything another time. To whom are you going to give the papers you have just received from M. Dagara?” “Mr. Donnington!” she cried with a start and a stare of astonishment. “No, not to me,” I replied with a smile. “Let us walk on a little. You will not think I mean anything that is not entirely to help you in asking this.” “No. I know that. But I--I can’t tell you. Besides, I have been ordered not--not to speak to you.” “I guessed something of the sort and that’s partly the reason why I arranged this meeting instead of coming to your house. You generally give such things to the Contesse Inglesia. Shall you give her these?” Again she was startled. “But how can all this be known to you? Do you mean others know it?” “Certainly not. But please tell me.” “How you have learnt all this, I can’t imagine; but you are right. I do generally give them to Inez. But there has been some unaccountable delay and I am to give them to Vasco.” “That’s good news, for a start.” “Why good news?” she asked quickly. “You must let me be a little mysterious for the present. And now, the second question--can you tell me where he is to take them?” “I know no more than you--not so much indeed it seems;” and she smiled faintly. “That’s better--that you can smile, I mean. When will you give them to him? Is he waiting at your home for them?” “No. He hurried in to tell me to fetch them at once and that he would come back for them. He was very excited about something and very strange.” “When is he to return for them?” “I don’t know.” “But I must know. It is absolutely vital. Can you so arrange that he does not get them until, say, eight o’clock this evening?” “Why?” “Don’t ask me. Can you do it?” “It may be dangerous, but I--I will try.” “It must be certain,” I said firmly. “I must know definitely.”