"Whoever told you that, lied," the old man responded, "for he had a nephew of mine shot only yesterday morning for saying in public he hoped that wretched weakling of a woman would soon be put off the throne and we should have someone who was fit to govern--meaning Don Carlos--in her place. Take my advice, Señor, and either change those clothes at once or give Trijello as wide a berth as possible." Ralph then asked him if there was any place near at hand where he could purchase a civilian suit, and, on being informed that there was a Jew's shop within a few minutes' walk, he thanked the old man most cordially for giving him so friendly a warning, and at once proceeded there. To cut a long story short he bought the clothes and, thus disguised, went on into the town, and, with the object of picking up any information he could with regard to the enemy's forces, he dined at the principal hotel, and listened attentively to the conversation that was taking place all around him. Later on in the day some Christino soldiers arrived, officers on the staff of one of the Royalist generals, and Ralph decided to remain in the hotel for the night and see if he could get hold of some really definite news that might be of value to his own headquarters. Learning that someone would be leaving the hotel shortly and passing by the inn where O'Flanagan was staying, he gave them a note to give to his friend, stating that he could not be back till the following day, perhaps about noon. He then took up his seat before the parlour fire, apparently absorbed in reading the latest bulletin from Madrid, but in reality keeping his ears well open for any conversation that might be worth transcribing in his pocket-book. Nor was he disappointed, for the Christino soldiers waxed very talkative over some of mine host's best port, and disclosed many secrets concerning the movements of the Queen's forces, that would have most certainly entailed a court martial, had it but come to the notice of their general.