Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18
CHAPTER XII fcontinued)

rr.or, wine shop. yawning like dirty
cavern in the basement of paiauai oiu
building. issued suddenly brawny ruila"
In rags wiping his thick beard WIN 'ne
back of a hairy paw. He lurcheo h'
I'd hegan To walk before me hastily.
noticed the glitter of a gold earring In the
lobe of his huge ear.
IJts cloak was frayed at the bottom INTO
a perfect fringe and, as he hung IL apou''
he showed a good deal of naked SKIN uiiuei
II. His calves were bandaged cross"ise'
his peaked hat seemed to have peeh 'lou
den upon In filth before he had put IL on MS
head. Suddenly l stopped short Lusa-
renoi
We were then In the empty part OF mar
row street, whose lower eno was pe avNio
close with a crowd viewing processiOoii
which was filing slowly past, along the lule
thoroughfare. 1t was too late FOR me 10 ~
back. .,o,oa At
nassing canopy that seemed all gold with
three priests in gorgeous capes "alklne
slowly under It, and l absolutely Iorso. "
take off my hat. The bearded ruiran reap
ed at me with yell, Thou sacrneglous III
fdel." and sent my hat flying off my head.
Just then the band crashed again, tne
bells pealed out, and no one hearu ms
shout. With one blow OF my hst sen. ti,G
staggering backward. The procession hao
passed: people were rising from their knees
Iand pouring out of the narrow street:
Swearing he fumbled under his CLOAK; L
watched him narrowly; but in moment ne
sprang away and lost himself among the
moving crowd. / picked up my hat
For a time l stood very uneasy, ana theh
retreated under doorway. Nothing nap
pened and | was anxious to get on. III was
impossible to cross the wide street now
That Lugareno did not know me: He was
a Lugareno though No doubt about 1t. L
would make a dash now; but first stole
hoe eyIu of no NIL
/ kept in the hollow of my palm.
Senior said voice. l lifted my head:
An elderly man in black, with Whlte
mustache and imperial, stood before me.
The ruffian was stalking up to his side, and
four soldiers with an officer were coming
behind. l took in the whole disaster at d
glance. - .
haps an Englishman," said the official IN
black He had a lace collar, chain on MS
neck. velvet breeches, well-turned leg III
black stockings. His voice was SOFT
This worthy man." began the oflclal IN
black complains of your violence
This worthy man." l shouted stupidity
ais a pirate. He is a Rio Medic Lugareno
He is a criminal
The official seemed astounded ana sa"
nv idiotic mistake at once-too late!
STRANGE" he murmured and, at the
same time, the rutf1anly wretch began 10
shout:
..It Is he, The traitor! recognize him!'
Peace peacev said the man in black
Il demand to be taken before the JueZ
Don Patricio for a deposition, shrieked the
Iugareno. A crowd was beginning TO COL
lect. ,, oo,
The official and the officer exchanged con-
sulting chances At a word from the lat-
ter the soldiers closed upon me.
felt utterly overcome, as II the earth
had crumbled under my feet, and the
heavens had been rent in twain. walked
between my captors across the street
among hooting knots of people, ana up
the steps of the portco, as if in frlsht-
full dream. ,.
But had the leisure to collect my wits. 1
could not claim the consuls protection, SIM
nlv because l should have to give MN d
truthful account of myself, and that Woulu
mean giving up Seraphna. The consui
could not protect her. But the Lion woulo
sail on the morrow. Sebright would under
stand II if Williams did not. trusted
Sebright's sagacity. Yes, she would sail TO-
morrow evening. day and half III l
could ONLY keep the knowledge OF Seraphila
from O'Brien till then-she was sa1e, ana l
should be safe too, for my lips would pe
unseaIed | could claim the protectlon ol
nv consul and proclaim the villainy Oh the
Juez. ,ro,+aa
'.C;o In there now, senior, to be CONFRONTED
with your accuser," said the omclal III
black appearing before me. He pointed d.
a small door to the left. My heart was
beating steadily. l felt sort OF ih'repiu
resignation.