With characteristic swiftness of decision Rollo made up his mind that the best plan for the defence of the palace would be to place his scanty forces along the various jutting balconies of the second floor, carefully darkening all the rooms in their rear, so that, till the moment of the attack itself, the assailants would have no idea that they were expected. It was his idea that the small doors on the garden side of the house, which led right and left to the servants' quarters, would be attacked first. He was the more assured of this because the Sergeant had recognised, in the bivouac of the gipsies, a man who had formerly been one of the royal grooms both at La Granja and at Aranjuez. He would be sure to be familiar, therefore, with that part of the interior of the palace. Besides, being situated upon the side most completely removed from the town, the assailants would have the less fear of interruption. While Rollo was thus cogitating, Concha came softly to his side, appearing out of the gloom with a suddenness that startled the young man. "I have pulled up the ladder by which we ascended and laid it across the balcony," she said. "Was that right?" "You--alone?" cried Rollo in astonishment. She nodded brightly. "Certainly," she answered; "women are not all so great weaklings as you think them--nor yet such fools!" "Indeed, you have more sense than I," Rollo responded, gloomily; "I ought to have remembered that before. But, as you know, I have had many things to think of." "I am glad," she said, more quietly and submissively than ever in her life, "that even in so small a matter I am permitted to think a little for you!" Whereupon, though the connection of idea is not obvious, Rollo remembered the moment when he had faced the black muzzles of Cabrera's muskets in the chill of the morning, and the bitter regret which had then arisen to his mind. Out there in the dark of the palace-garden, death fronted him as really though not perhaps so immediately. He resolved quickly that he should not have the same regret again, if the worst came to the worst. There was no one in the alcove where Concha had found him. The Queen-Regent had disappeared to her suite of rooms, and thither after a time Senor Munoz had followed her. The rest were at that moment being placed in their various posts by the Sergeant according to Rollo's directions. So he stooped quickly and kissed Concha upon the mouth.