“‘I bring you de water for shave,’ he said, mildly. ‘Also de navája, what you call it, de knife for rasp. Shall I rasp you?’

“‘Thanks, no,’ said both; ‘we will prefer to rasp ourselves.’

“‘Vell den, geentlemans, I have also for you de complimentes of de great Count de Dolosa, and he will be mooch please to see you at breekwust. In one leetle half-hour de gong veel soun’, den I come again and conduct you to de breekwust-room.’

“‘By the way,’ cried Brackenbury, as the polite little man was about to leave, ‘what is your name?’

“‘Name, señor? si señor, my name ees Marco.’

“‘Here’s an odd half-sovereign I’ve got no use for, Marco.’

“‘Gracias!’ muttered Marco, slipping the coin into his waistcoat pocket.

“‘Now, Marco,’ continued Brackenbury, ‘you’re a kind-hearted sort of a chap, I know.’

“‘Si, señor, hombre de chapa.’ (man of sense.)

“‘Yes; well, have you heard anything about us? No preparations to hang us, or anything of that sort, is there, Marco?’