And as he had anticipated, Evasio Mon came to Torre Garda. It was almost dusk when he arrived. Whether he knew that Marcos was not in his room, remained an open question. He did not ask after him. He was brought by the servant to the terrace where he found Cousin Peligros and Juanita. Sarrion was in his study and came out when Mon passed the open window. "So we are all besieged," said the visitor, with his tolerant smile as he took a chair offered to him in the grand manner by Cousin Peligros, who belonged to the school of etiquette that holds it wrong for any lady to be natural in the presence of men other than of her own family. Cousin Peligros smiled in rather a pinched way, and with a gesture of her outspread hands morally wiped the besiegers out. No female Sarrion, she seemed to imply, need ever fear inconvenience from a person in uniform. "You and I, Señorita," said Mon, with his bland and easy sympathy of manner, "have no business here. We are persons of peace." Cousin Peligros made a condescending and yet decisive gesture, patting the empty air. "I have my charge. I shall fulfil it," she said--determined, and not without a suggestion of coyness withal. Juanita was lying in wait for a glance from Sarrion and when she received it she made a little movement of the eyelids, telling him to take Cousin Peligros away. "You will stay the night," said Sarrion to Evasio Mon. "No, my friend. Thank you very much. I cherish a hope of getting through the lines to-night to Pampeluna. I came indeed to offer my poor services as escort to these ladies who will surely be safer at Pampeluna." "Then you think that they will besiege Torre Garda," asked Sarrion, innocently. "One never knows, my friend--one never knows. It seems to me that the firing is nearer this afternoon." Sarrion laughed. "You are always hearing guns." Mon turned and looked at him and there was a suggestion of melancholy in his smile. "Ah! Ramon," he said. "You and I have heard them all our lives." And there was perhaps a second meaning in his words, known only to Sarrion, whose face softened for an instant. "Let us have some coffee," he said, turning to Cousin Peligros. "Will you see to it, Peligros--in the library?" So Peligros walked across the broad terrace with the mincing steps taught in the thirties, leaving Mon hatless with a bowed head according to the etiquette of those leisurely days. He was all things, to all men. "By the way ..." said Sarrion, and followed her without completing his sentence.