"He has just done so, your Majesty. I went to him to ask the reason of a most unexpected event—the arrest of Senorita Castelar—a matter that has caused me grave uneasiness." "Did he not tell you that some exceptions had to be made in granting pardons?" "He did not tell me that Senorita Castelar was to be an exception, and certainly I had never been led to expect it," I answered, rather bluntly. "Nor did I think that such a thing would ever have been done." He gave me a little eager glance, and was going to reply quickly, when he checked himself, paused, and then in the former tone said— "We wish to consult your desires so far as possible, my lord; but the senorita took a very active part even in the plot against me." "I am in your Majesty’s hands, of course, but such a step is a strange way of consulting my desires." "I am not so sure of that," he cried quickly, with a boyish smile. "At least, I mean that you have been such a friend to me that I am convinced you would not wish me to do anything that my advisers consider unwise." "We did not speak in this strain as we rode back that evening from Podrida. I do not recall any conditions about your Majesty’s advisers or even mention of them." "You are very difficult to deal with, senor, and are making my task very hard," he said, protestingly. "I have not the honour to know what your Majesty’s task is," said I, puzzled by his words. "It has been found necessary, in the interests which I have at heart, to pass a sentence upon the senorita—in some respects a heavy sentence." He used the same over-serious tone, but as he looked up into my face I saw laughter in his eyes, and when he finished, the smile spread over his face. "It is your Majesty’s prerogative to command," I answered. "Yes," he cried, eagerly. "Yes, this is my own doing. I have seen Senorita Castelar. I spoke of my advisers just now; but this is not their doing, it is all my work. That may make you agree to it, even if the punishment itself may seem to you severe. And, believe me, I should be very sorry if I thought that—on your account. You will believe that?" and he made a motion to place his hands on mine as if to appeal to me. "I should be deeply distressed if I thought you of yourself could do anything harsh or unjust. I do not think it possible." "That is more like my Englishman of Podrida," he cried, gleefully; but, reverting to the grave tone, he added: "The senorita knows her punishment and quite acquiesces in its justice; although it carries with it no less than partial imprisonment for life." "Your Majesty is not serious?" I exclaimed.