those political intrigues which some years later burst into flame,
and resulted finally in the expulsion of the Bourbons from the
throne of Spain. Larralde was sufficiently dangerous to require
watching, and, like many of his kind, considered himself of a
greater importance than his enemies were pleased to attach to him.
The city of Toledo is, as many know, almost surrounded by the rapid
Tagus, and entrance to its narrow confine is only to be gained by
two gates. To pass either of these barriers in open day would be to
court a publicity singularly undesirable at this time, for Esteban
Larralde was slipping down the social slope, which gradual progress
is the hardest to arrest. If one is mounting there are plenty to
help him--those from above seeking to make unto themselves friends
of the mammon of unrighteousness; those from below hoping to tread
in the footsteps he may leave. Each step, however, of the upward
progress has to be gained at the expense of another. But on the
descent there are none to stay and many to push behind, while those
in front make room readily enough. Larralde had for the first time
accepted a direct monetary reward for his services. That this had
been offered and accepted in a polite Spanish manner as an advance
of expenses to be incurred was, of course, only natural under the
circumstances, but the fact remained that Esteban Larralde was no
longer a picturesque conspirator, serving a failing cause with that
devotion which can only be repaid later by high honours, and a post
carrying with it emoluments of proportionate value. He had, in
fact, been paid in advance; which is the surest sign of distrust
upon one side or the other.

The Barennas had been established at their house in Toledo some
weeks, and, for Julia, life had been dull enough. She had hastened
northward, knowing well that her lover's intrigues must necessarily