The monk shrank back into his cowl, and stood aside while the party went by.
The garden door was held by the maid servant while they passed on, and when they were out of hearing, she dropped a small silver coin into the mendicant friar's hand.
"There," she said, "I can spare you something, father, although those rich English cannot or will not, the heretics and pagans!"
The friar, who was seemingly an aged man, muttered his thanks, and the girl retired and closed the door, locking it behind her.
No sooner was the door closed than the mendicant monk whistled a low but very distinct note, and lo! two men appeared upon the scene.
It looked as though they had just come up trap-doors in the earth, so suddenly did they show in sight.
"Captain Mathias," said the disguised monk to the first who came up, "I have learnt all we wish to know."
"You have?" ejaculated, not the man addressed by the mendicant monk, but the other. "Out with it, then."
"Still your impatience, Toro, if you can.—"
"Bah!"