But a half-hour later the commandant returned to the cell, and this time he brought with him a number of his little policemen, each armed with a club. Feeling some menace in their coming, Kirk, who had seated himself dejectedly, arose to ask: "What's coming off?" Alfarez merely issued some directions in Spanish, and chain handcuffs were once more snapped upon the prisoner's wrists. "So! you're going to hold my trial, eh?" cried Kirk. But the other snarled: "Senor Locke, you 'ave force' the water of the 'ose-wagon upon my body for making the people laugh. Bueno! Now I shall laugh." He seated himself, then nodded at his men to begin. IX SPANISH LAW Mrs. Cortlandt answered her telephone for the second time, repeating with some impatience: "Tell the man I can't see him." "But he refuses to leave--says he must see you at once; it's important," came the voice of the clerk. "Oh, very well. I'll come down." She hung up the receiver with a snap. "Why don't they send him up?" queried her husband from the sitting-room. "It's a negro, and the clerk says he'd rather not allow him up-stairs. Another sick family, I suppose." "They're beginning to impose on you. It's usually that way with charities," said Cortlandt. With unfeminine neglect of the chance for petty discussion, his wife left the room without replying, and descended to the hotel lobby. Here she was directed toward a very ragged, very woe-begone young black on the rear porch, who, at sight of her, began to fumble his hat and run his words together so excitedly that she was forced to calm him. "Now, now! I can't understand a word. Who are you?" "H'Allan, mistress." "You say some one is ill?" "Oh yes, he is very h'ill h'indeed, mistress--h'all covered with blood and his poor 'ands h'all cut." "Who--?" "And his 'ead--oh, Lard! His 'ead is cut, too, and he suffers a fever." "WHO IS IT?" "Mr. h'Auntony--" "Anthony!" Mrs. Cortlandt started. "What has happened? Quick!" Seeing that at last he had found a friend, the Jamaican began to sob with relief, wailing extravagant praises to God and apparently endeavoring to kiss Mrs. Cortlandt's hand, whereat she seized him by the shoulders and shook him, crying: "Stop that! Behave yourself and tell me what is the trouble, quickly now, from the beginning."