"That was a near thing, wasn’t it?" he said to me. "Wonder if they got my luggage in;" and putting his head out, shouted vociferously to those on the platform to throw his bags into the luggage break. "Good," he exclaimed, as he sat down again. "They can do things if you only shout at them. They got them in." Then rolling himself a cigarette, he asked me for a light, and began to chat. "A commercial traveller, I see," he said. He had a pleasant voice, and to keep my character, I went all through the lace business again. In reply he gave a long account of himself, to which I paid little attention, and then he gradually led the conversation to Carlism, and professed a good deal of sympathy with the Carlists who seemed to have fallen on evil times. "I am an Englishman, senor, and these things can be nothing to me except so far as they are bad for trade," I answered, and commenced to make some entries in a note book as if to close the conversation. He would not be put off, however, and continued to talk, asking a host of questions and trying to draw my companions into the conversation. To my surprise they would not speak to him, not even replying when he put questions direct to them, and after a while the talk ceased, and we travelled a number of miles in silence. Then he began again, and pestered me with questions as to my journey, where I had come from, where I was going, what business I had done, and soon, and again made strenuous efforts to get my companions to speak. "We must be within a few miles of Calatayud," he said, at length, and at that Garcia, having exchanged a glance with Cabrera, crossed the carriage, and saying they would have the window closed now, pulled it up and sat down opposite the stranger. "You have been very anxious to make us talk with you, senor; may I ask why?" he said. "Merely because I hate travelling in silence." "You are very interested in the Carlists, too, I notice," and Garcia looking him straight in the face said, "Kindly tell us the nature of that interest?" "Mere sympathy with them of course. I think they’re being very hardly dealt with. That’s all." "Are you one of them?" "Oh no, certainly not." "Perhaps you know some of them?" "No, I don’t think I do." The answer was lightly spoken, but I noticed that a shadow of anxiety began to show on his face. "By sight, perhaps?" "No. No, not even by sight." The tone was growing less firm. "What did you say you were?" "Really, I am not here for examination," and I saw his hand go stealing towards his pocket.