"Thank you, Condesa Almonte for your amiable observation. It does something to compensate me for having to do policeman's duty. And now let it be done. Please to consider yourself under arrest; and you also, Senorita Valverde." Up to this time the last named lady had not said a word, the distress she was in restraining her. But as mistress there, she saw it was her turn to speak, which she did, saying-- "If we are your prisoners, Colonel Santander, I hope you will not take us away from here till my father comes home. As you may be aware, he's in the city." "I am aware of that, Dona Luisa, and glad to say my orders enable me to comply with your wishes, and that you remain here till Don Ignacio returns. I'm enjoined to see to your safe keeping--a very absurd requirement, but one which often falls to the lot of the soldier as well as the _policeman_." Neither the significant words nor the forced laugh that accompanied them had any effect on her for whom they were intended. With disdain in her eyes, such as a captive queen might show for the common soldier who stood guard over her, the Condesa had already turned her back upon the speaker and was walking away. With like proud air, but less confident and scornful, Luisa Valverde followed. Both were allowed to pass inside, leaving the Hussar colonel to take such measures for their keeping as he might think fit. His first step was to order in the remainder of his escort and distribute them around the house, so that in ten minutes after the _casa de campo_ of Don Ignacio Valverde bore resemblance to a barrack, with sentinels at every entrance and corner! CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN. UNDER ARREST. Scarce necessary to say that Luisa Valverde and Ysabel Almonte were at length really alarmed--fully alive to a sense of their danger. It was no more a question of the safety of their lovers, but their own. And the prospect was dark, indeed. Santander had said nothing of the reason for arresting them; nor had they cared to inquire. They divined it; no longer doubting that it was owing to revelations made by the hunchback. Sure now that this diminutive wretch not only himself knew their secret, but had made it known in higher quarters, there seemed no hope for them; instead, ruin staring them in the face. The indignity to their persons they were already experiencing would be followed by social disgrace, and confiscation of property. "Oh, Ysabelita! what will they do to us?" was the Dona Luisa's anxious interrogatory, soon as they had got well inside their room. "Do you think they'll put us in a prison?" "Possibly they will. I wish there was nothing worse awaiting us." "Worse! Do you mean they'd inflict punishment on us--that is, corporal punishment? Surely they daren't?" "Daren't! Santa Anna dare anything--at least, neither shame nor mercy will restrain him. No more this other man, his minion, whom you know better than I. But it isn't punishment of that kind I'm thinking of."