"I beg that your excellency will accept the sympathy of my deepest heart," he said. "I regret to trouble you so soon after the great loss sustained by your excellency, indeed, by the whole island of Majorca. But it is a matter of business. Such things cannot be delayed. Have I your excellency's permission to proceed?" "Certainly, senor." The man's clean-shaven face was like a mask. The expressions seemed to come and go as if worked by machinery. Sympathy was turned off, and in its place Polite-Attention-to-Business appeared. From under his arm he drew a leather portfolio, which he placed upon the table. "The affairs of the late Cavalier Challoner were perhaps known to your excellency?" "No; I knew nothing of my father's affairs." Sympathy seemed to be struggling behind "Polite-Attention-to-Business," while for a moment a real look of distress flitted over the parchment face. He paused for an instant, reflecting while he assorted his papers. "I am," he said, "the lawyer of his excellency the Count de Lloseta." Eve and Fitz exchanged a glance, and as silence was kept the lawyer went on. "Three generations ago," he said, "a Count de Lloseta, the grandfather of this present excellency, made over on 'rotas' the estate and house known as the Val d'Erraha to the grandfather of the late Cavalier Challoner--a Captain Challoner, one of Admiral Byng's men." Again he paused, arranging his papers. "The Majorcan system 'rotas' is known to your excellency?" "No, senor." "On this system an estate is made over for one or two or three generations by the proprietor to the lessee who farms or sublets the land, and in lieu of rent hands over to the proprietor a certain proportion of the crops. Does your excellency follow me?" Eve did not answer at once. Then the lawyer's meaning seemed to dawn upon her. "Then," she said, "the Casa d'Erraha never belonged to my father?" "Never"--with a grave bow. "And I have nothing--nothing at all! I am penniless?" The lawyer looked from her to Fitz, who was standing beside her listening to the conversation, but not offering to take part in it. "Unless your excellency has private means--in England, perhaps." "I do not know--I know nothing. And we must leave the Casa d'Erraha. When, senor? Tell me when." The lawyer avoided her distressed eyes. "Well," he said slowly, "the law is rather summary. I--your excellency understands I only do my duty. I am not the principal. I have no authority whatever--except the law." "You mean that I must go at once?" The lawyer's parchment face was generously expressive of grief now. "Excellency, the lease terminated at the death of the late Caballero Challoner." Eve stood for a moment, breathing hard. Fate seemed suddenly to have turned against her at every point. At this moment Captain Bontnor made bold--one could see him doing it--to take her hand.