‘Leave me alone for that.’ ‘After all, if a pretty girl, with a handsome portion is thrown in your way, I do not fear but that I shall be able to make you a convert.’ ‘Well, we’ll leave that till the opportunity offers itself.’ ‘Be it so.’ ‘But you are really serious?’ ‘Cursed serious.’ ‘Ha, ha, ha! we must have another glass of wine after that,’ laughed Kay, ‘here’s fortune and matrimony.’ ‘Fortune and matrimony,’ responded Maretzo, raising the glass to his lips; and then another pause of a few minutes took place. ‘I have been thinking, Kay,’ at length Maretzo broke silence, ‘that, after all, the whereabouts of Blodget, and Inez may not be so difficult for Monteagle to trace out as hitherto it has proved.’ At this, the door opened, and the landlord entered, saying that a man wished to speak to Kay. ‘Tell him to come in. Who the deuce can it be?’ said Kay. ‘Doubtless one of our fellows,’ said Maretzo. The man now entered. ‘Well,’ said Kay. ‘I’m the person you asked for.’ The visitor went to the door, and turned the key. He then said, in a low tone, ‘Is your companion to be trusted?’ ‘True as steel,’ said Kay. ‘Blodget is in trouble and needs your assistance. He is at Gordon’s house.—Jenkins has informed on him, and he can’t leave the house without almost certain death. He wishes you and a person he called Maretzo, to be there to-night. With your aid he can get off, carrying the lady with him. He says he won’t mind a couple of thousand, if you can get him out of this scrape.’ ‘Now, my good fellow, how do we know that this isn’t all gas. A trap, may be?’ said Kay. ‘He told me to tell you, if you doubted me, to remember _the old man in the old house_!’ Kay started, but quickly recovering himself said, ‘All right, we’ll be on hand.’ The man left the house, and mounting his horse rode to the Mission. At a small house near the church he found Joaquin, by whom he was conducted to Jenkins, who was in company with Monteagle and some Californians, friends of Inez and her family. The party speedily set off across the country towards the house where Inez was confined. But speedy as they were, they found they had been anticipated by Kay and Maretzo, who had set off to aid Blodget the instant the man had left. On arriving at the house they knocked boldly at the door. Gordon opened it, but upon seeing who the visitors were he attempted to slam it in their faces, but ere he succeeded a long Spanish knife was driven to his heart by Maretzo, and the wretch fell a bleeding corpse on the floor. Blodget was soon released. ‘Bear a-hand,’ cried Kay. ‘We must be out of this d—d quick. If Jenkins or any of his gang arrive, we’re gone chickens.’ ‘One moment,’ cried Blodget. ‘I’ll have this d—d stubborn Spanish b—h if I have to carry her corpse across my saddle!’ as he spoke he sprang up stairs. Alice had overheard what passed for she was sitting by Inez’s bedside watching her slumbers.