"I know that; but it will make a good excuse for us to give to the doctor who is to watch him," I returned, drily. "It must be a man who won’t talk either. And you’ll give me your word to say nothing of that distressing scene of his cowardice. There’s a good deal in this thing—a good deal. And will you look up Captain Pescada in the morning and get a pledge of secrecy from him?" "Certainly I will; and I think I know the man you want." "Can you rouse him up to-night? Of course, I’ll see he’s well paid. I don’t want to be here any longer than necessary; and as soon as this thing’s done," nodding to where Livenza was writing, "perhaps you could fetch him." The arrangements as I planned them were carried out without much further loss of time, and as soon as the paper had been read over and signed, and Livenza’s seconds had left, Mayhew started in search of his friend. Livenza went to bed, and when the young doctor came and I had given him my instructions, Mayhew and I left the house together. "It’s all very mysterious, Ferdinand," he said, fishing. "Very, Silas; but I hope things will come right in the end." "You’re well out of an ugly business." "Or deeper in—it remains to be seen which," I answered, cryptically, and smiled. "But whichever it is, our friendship will have to stand the strain of silence about it. I’m sorry, for I should much like to have you in it with me. But it can’t be—at any rate yet. All the better for you, perhaps." "That brute meant to kill you," he said, after a pause. "Not the only good intention that’s missed fire to-night, probably." "I couldn’t understand you a bit. You were as cool and certain as if you knew you’d come out on top." "I think I did know it, too, in a way. Anyhow, I felt dead certain, and that was just as good. But I know a lot more than I did, I’m glad to say." "What do you mean?" he asked, with quick curiosity. "I know what it means to stand fire at close range." "All right; I won’t question you. But you’re a strange beggar;" and he laughed. I thought I could afford to laugh, too, so I joined him. I might not have many more occasions for much laughter, at any rate for a while; and soon after that we parted at the door of his house. It was very late, but I sat for an hour smoking, studying the route of the young King’s drive for the next day, and making my plans; and when I turned in my nerves were still in good enough trim for me to get to sleep at once. I had had a very full and very exciting day, but unless I was mistaken the morrow would prove much more critical for me, and probably a no less fateful one for Spain. I sent a letter first thing in the morning to the Embassy, excusing myself from attendance there on the plea of sudden business; and, hiring a horse, rode out to the spot where the attempt on the young King was to be made that afternoon.