To this narrative she listened with even more engrossed attention than to my former one of her son’s rescue; and as I drove home point after point and saw them tell, I felt that I was winning her to my side all reluctantly and dead against her prejudice in her Minister’s favour, until she herself admitted that the route of the young King’s drive and the lack of guards on that eventful afternoon had been suggested by Quesada himself. At the close she was so overcome that, feeling embarrassed, I asked leave to withdraw; but she detained me and gradually put aside her weakness. "I still cannot believe it, Lord Glisfoyle; but it shall be tested to the uttermost and every means of investigation shall be exhausted. On that you have my word. And now——" she had got as far as that when there came an interruption, and a message was brought that an immediate audience was craved by one of the Secretaries of State on a matter of the deepest urgency. "You will not leave the Palace, my lord. I wish to see you again," and I withdrew to an ante-room to await her pleasure. I was satisfied with what I had done; and as I sat thinking over the interview, I noticed signs of much excitement and commotion; messengers kept coming and going quickly; high dignitaries and officials were hurrying this way and that, and the number of people in the great chamber increased largely, all talking together in clusters, scared in looks and excited in manner, although subdued in tone. Presently the infection of the general excitement spread to me, and looking about me I caught sight of one of the two officers who had come to me at the Hotel de l’Opera on the night of the King’s rescue, Colonel Vasca, and I went up to him. "Is there any special news to cause this commotion?" I asked, when we had exchanged greetings. "Is it possible you have not heard it? The Minister of the Interior, Senor Quesada, has been assassinated within the last hour in his own house." "Quesada dead!" I exclaimed in profound astonishment. And then by a freak of memory Mayhew’s words recurred to me—"Only one thing will ever beat Quesada—and that’s death." "How did it happen? Who was the assassin?" I asked. "Some villain of a Carlist, it is believed, in revenge for the blow which the Government have just struck at them. But they will pay a heavy price for so foul a deed." My heart sank within me at the news. I realised in an instant what it must mean to my poor Sarita and everyone leagued with her, and I went back to my seat overwrought and half-distracted. She had indeed sown the wind to reap the whirlwind, and I could not hope to save her. When at length the summons came for me to return to the Queen Regent, I followed the messenger almost like a man in a dream. *CHAPTER XXXII* *LIVENZA’S REVENGE*