if ever i saw evil in a woman s eyes you need say no more frank he interrupted hotly it is shabby to speak ill of a woman behind her back i will say it to her face if you like harry believe me she is no good and she will certainly get you into trouble i can take care of myself i am no fool you are a man at all events i retorted and all the tale of the skull men are fools where a woman is concerned do you intend to present lady with a half caste daughter in law that is neither here nor there said he and turned on his heel to intimate that my interference was for later on he left the hotel to call on his os having been thus rewarded for my i walked to the de la to visit he was a of tastes with whom i had shortly after my arrival at his � named after the star of � was a peaceful old dwelling with courts and a wonderful chapel and an extensive library when was not praying in the chapel he was reading in the library and here i found him with the latin of a author our friendship was based on a common love for but as harry s tastes did not lie in that direction he sought neither nor and although i had observed casually that i had a companion i had not thought it necessary to inform the holy of the existence of it was only after my fruitless appeal to harry that i mentioned the name of the half caste to the as a popular in he was likely to know something of the lady and a little knowledge of her peculiarities might enable me to rescue harry from her toils this then was the main reason for my visit and after a few words of courtesy i introduced the subject the pious horror with which received the name of served only to confirm my fears what is this you tell me don said he severely have you been led astray by this daughter of evil no reverend sir i speak in the interest of my friend who is now in her toils god help him said the crossing himself she the of the ll will him to death as she has others demon that the holy office were in existence to bum thee to ashes i who is t a demon have you not heard of the what is the skull it is an instrument of evil possessed by this creature said with much energy � the skull of i heathen king adorned with jewels and inhabited by ef spirits with it she works her twelve i she slain holy mary forbid that your friend should t the you don t mean to say that she has murdered tm men i demanded uneasily the attitude of the � frightened me who knows how they die she them i beauty and gives them the skull a then they perish how do they perish nay i cannot tell you there was an brother of our order who was charmed by this m fell away from his vows in due time as is h she gave him the skull he bore it to his c and he was found next morning seated before it � dead and the skull we sprinkled it with holy water and the e spirit who dwelt therein to depart but she came t accursed one and bore it away ay my son i bars and stone walls could not keep her out of the of the star she appeared like a demon in our midst i disappeared with the skull we i midnight may his soul find peace i at the conclusion of this story tjie r himself j to his prayers and his and seeing that my presence i was distasteful i left him to his an of evil possessed i � � � i � � � � f i t � i i if � i � � u the tale of the skull this was the first i had heard of the skull but was to hear of it again within an hour this time it was bom a there was no connection between and vagabond yet both spoke of the same thing fate is fond d incidents my acquaintance with don de � for so he himself � began by my saving his life the was crossing the road f when a beyond the control of its rider dashed round the corner had i not instinctively rushed forward and dragged don out of harm s way assuredly he would have been trampled to death this he recognized for having devoutly crossed himself he shook his fist at the flying and advanced towards me with a air i lay myself at your illustrious feet said he in the stately spanish tongue you are my all i have is yours the gift was no one for his whole wardrobe could have been purchased for half a crown his skin was as with dirt as were his clothes beyond a pair of breeches a ragged shirt and a cloak he wore nothing worth mentioning save a tattered which he held in his hand during our interview with his evil eyes his shining teeth and his long hair he appeared to be anything but a desirable acquaintance but in conscious of his defects he rolled a and before me a finer specimen of the bird i never beheld and as i was in no way desirous of continuing the acquaintance i muttered some acknowledgment of his words and turned to go this however he would not permit do my eyes deceive me said he stepping back a pace or do i indeed behold the renowned and noble don who honours our city with his magnificent presence i admitted the identity 