"Let me tell you something, while I have the opportunity. You are in great danger here. Señor, I wish to help you. I have tried for weeks to stir up some manhood in the hearts of these cowardly sheep in Seguro. The Prince has been missing for days, since he went into that castle. I want to save my beloved Princess from the same fate which I fear overtook him when he braved the horrors of that castle. It is a place of Satan, señor." The American smiled at her, as he asked: "Now, do you really believe in all that superstitious trash, my good girl? You look intelligent." The girl crossed herself piously. "Have we not been taught by the priest, of the fiends who haunt the earth and wreck human happiness? How can I say such things could not happen, for the sins of bygone people? Not that I would think anything but love and respect for the Prince and his wonderful sister, her Highness! But, señor, I feel the same as do the other dwellers of Seguro." "And how is that?" "I feel that strange things have gone on in that castle. Even a great gentleman like the Duke says so. Surely if educated noblemen put faith in such things, we simple folk are not far wrong to believe what we are taught. But still..." "Yes, there you are, my good girl. You have a 'but still'--and that means a doubt. The doubts of the world have been the foundation stones of modern freedom--it was the doubts of the old farmers and traders back in America which threw off the yoke of the old kingdom, and made a great free country. If you have a doubt you may be saved. As for the Duke--the only god he pays allegiance to is himself--and he's not been so sure of that divinity during these last iconoclastic ten days." "I don't understand, Señor Warren?" she replied, in bewilderment. "Of course you don't, or you wouldn't be kow-towing to this royalty stuff, and you would hand a bottle to that Don Roughhouse or whatever his name is, right on his classic brow, with a classic smash. You ought to see how an American girl would treat one of these big bullies! Well, what about my danger? It never worries me when I know where and when and how to expect it. Whatever you tell will be absolutely our secret." Dolores looked at Rusty, who was struggling with a cigarette--he was more accustomed to Pittsburgh stogies, but his motto in life was based on the famous advice concerning Roman imitation! "How about the Señor Moor, señor? May you trust him?" she asked nervously. "Rusty is no Moor--he's an Afro-Methodist, my girl. He can't understand Spanish anyway, even though he's the best little guesser this side of the Ohio River. But I'd trust Rusty with my life. Go ahead with the danger signals." She heard a footfall on the balcony above them. "Let me pretend to read your palm, señor. I know we are being watched." "All right, read away--my palm will show you that after this trip through Spain my clothesline needs washing. But, what's the fortune of the castle?"