Papilette understood it all in an instant.  ‘You are not to kill him,’ I whispered, and thrust him into the shadow on one side of the door; I crouched on the other.  Up he came, up and up, and every footfall seemed to be upon my heart.  The brown skirt of his gown was not over the threshold before we were both on him, like two wolves on a buck.  Down we crashed, the three of us, he fighting like a tiger, and with such amazing strength that he might have broken away from the two of us.  Thrice he got to his feet, and thrice we had him over again, until Papilette made him feel that there was a point to his sabre.  He had sense enough then to know that the game was up, and to lie still while I lashed him with the very cords which had been round my own limbs.

‘There has been a fresh deal, my fine fellow,’ said I, ’and you will find that I have some of the trumps in my hand this time.’

‘Luck always comes to the aid of a fool,’ he answered.  ’Perhaps it is as well, otherwise the world would fall too completely into the power of the astute.  So, you have killed Chenier, I see.  He was an insubordinate dog, and always smelt abominably of garlic.  Might I trouble you to lay me upon the bed?  The floor of these Portuguese tabernas is hardly a fitting couch for anyone who has prejudices in favour of cleanliness.’

I could not but admire the coolness of the man, and the way in which he preserved the same insolent air of condescension in spite of this sudden turning of the tables.  I dispatched Papilette to summon a guard, whilst I stood over our prisoner with my drawn sword, never taking my eyes off him for an instant, for I must confess that I had conceived a great respect for his audacity and resource.

‘I trust,’ said he, ‘that your men will treat me in a becoming manner.’

‘You will get your deserts—­you may depend upon that.’

’I ask nothing more.  You may not be aware of my exalted birth, but I am so placed that I cannot name my father without treason, nor my mother without a scandal.  I cannot claim Royal honours, but these things are so much more graceful when they are conceded without a claim.  The thongs are cutting my skin.  Might I beg you to loosen them?’

‘You do not give me credit for much intelligence,’ I remarked, repeating his own words.

‘Touche,’ he cried, like a pinked fencer.  ’But here come your men, so it matters little whether you loosen them or not.’

I ordered the gown to be stripped from him and placed him under a strong guard.  Then, as morning was already breaking, I had to consider what my next step was to be.  The poor Bart and his Englishmen had fallen victims to the deep scheme which might, had we adopted all the crafty suggestions of our adviser, have ended in the capture of the whole instead of the half of our force.  I must extricate them if it were still possible.  Then there was the old lady, the Countess of La Ronda, to be thought of.  As to the Abbey, since its garrison was on the alert it was hopeless to think of capturing that.  All turned now upon the value which they placed upon their leader.  The game depended upon my playing that one card.  I will tell you how boldly and how skilfully I played it.