"Certainly I cannot and will not, senorita," I replied, marvelling much at the turn things were taking. "You hear?" exclaimed Quesada, lifting his eyebrows. "You know why he stays?" This seemed to strike right at her heart. She sank into a chair and bent her head on her hand. "This step is necessary, Dolores. Be warned; and leave us," he continued, in the same meaning tone. "I do not care; I do not care. This shall not be. I swear it shall not. I swear by the Holy Virgin it shall not." Her words came with almost hysterical vehemence. "I claim his safety. Come what may, I dare you to harm him, Sebastian. I dare you," and she sprang to her feet again. "Senor, the way is open for you. I open it. No one shall harm you. You are a man of honour, and will at least remember that——" She stopped. I felt vastly embarrassed; but, reflecting how much my liberty at that moment might mean to Sarita, I turned towards the door to see if I was really to get away. "Stay," cried Quesada, hesitating in his fear of what I might do. "You are free to go, senor," said the sister. "I shall always remember to whom I owe my liberty; and unless I am driven to act, by steps which your brother has threatened, the recollection will guide my own attitude." "No, you shall not go," cried Quesada again, this time angrily and decidedly. "Sebastian, if you dare to thwart me in this, I will go straight to the Palace and say what—you know I can say." "You are ruining us, Dolores." Her reply was worthy of her brother for its directness. She went to the door, and called in the police official. "Senor Rubio, my brother wishes you to understand that he has made a mistake in ordering this gentleman’s arrest. He is a member of the British Embassy. Permit me, senor," she said to me, holding the door for me to pass. "Your Excellency’s wishes——?" asked Rubio. The answer was a wave of the hand, and I was free. A minute later, I was driving to my rooms, with a pretty picture of Dolores Quesada’s anxious face in my thoughts. How long I should remain at liberty was another question, however. Owing to the power she had over him, of a kind I could not guess, Dolores had succeeded in defeating his purpose for the moment; but I knew him too well not to think he would instantly set about repairing that defeat by indirect means unknown to her. I was too dangerous to be left at liberty, and he knew it; and probably his agents were even now starting out in quest of me; for Spanish prisons tell no tales. But I could at least make good use of my liberty, and my first step must be to rush to my rooms and procure a sufficient supply of money for emergencies. I had quite long enough start of the police for this, as a single minute in the rooms would be enough.