And they did not.  We quietly surrounded them, and shot them down before they were able to move.  Don Alfonso and I then set free the captives, while Raphael and Lamela rifled the pockets of the dead robbers.

“I am the Count of Polan, and this is my daughter Seraphina,” said the old gentleman.  “If you will help me to get my carriage ready, I will drive back to an inn which we passed before entering the forest.”

When we came to the inn, the count begged us all to stay with him.  Raphael and Lamela, however, were afraid that the police would track them out; Don Alfonso, who had been talking very earnestly to Seraphina, was, for some strange reason, also unwilling to remain; so I fell in with their views.

“Why didn’t you stay?” I said to Don Alfonso.

“I was afraid the count would recognise me, as Seraphina has done,” he said.  “I killed his son in a duel, just when I was trying to win Seraphina’s love.  Heaven grant that the service I have now rendered will make him inclined to forgive me.”

The day was breaking when we reached the mountains around Requena.  There we hid till nightfall, and then we made our way in the darkness to the town of Xeloa.  We found a quiet, shady retreat beside a woodland stream, and there we stayed, while Lamela went into the town to buy provisions.  He did not return until evening.  He brought back some extraordinary things.

He opened a great bundle containing a long black mantle and robe, another costume, a roll of parchment, a quill, and a great seal in green wax.

“Do you remember the trick you played on Camilla?” he said to me.  “I have a better scheme than that.  Listen.  As I was buying some provisions at a cook-shop, a man entered in a great rage and began abusing a certain Samuel Simon, a converted Jew and a cruel usurer.  He had ruined many merchants at Xeloa, and all the towns-people would like to see him ruined in turn.  Then, my dear Gil Blas, I remembered your clever trick, and brought these clothes so that we might visit this Jew dressed up as the officers of the Inquisition.”

After we had made a good meal, Lamela put on the robe and mantle of the Inquisitor, Raphael the costume of the registrar, and I took the part of a sergeant of the police.  We walked very solemnly to the house of the usurer; Simon opened the door himself, and started back in affright.

“Master Simon,” said Lamela, in a grave imperative tone of voice, “I command you, on behalf of the Holy Inquisition, to deliver to these officers the key of your cabinet.  I must have your private papers closely examined.  Serious charges of heresy have been brought against you.”

The usurer grew pale with fear.  Far from doubting any deceit on our part, he imagined that some of his enemies had informed the Holy Office against him.  He obeyed without the least resistance, and opened his cabinet.

“I am glad to see,” said Lamela, “that you do not rebel against the orders of the Holy Inquisition.  Retire now to another room, and let me carry out the examination without interference.”