"The palace of the captain general," said Don Joaquim, bowing; "he has just returned from Jaen, having gone on a pilgrimage to the Holy Face."
"We must have the pleasure of meeting you again," said I.
"Our hotel is the Queen's—de la Reyna—near the Exchange," added Slingsby.
"Oh, I know the place very well," replied the Don, producing his card, a token of civilisation little known in Spain; "my mother gives a tertulia to-night, and we shall be delighted to see you—her reception hour is eight—Donna Dominga de Lucena—Calle del Alcazar."
"You are the son of Donna Dominga, whom we had the pleasure of knowing in Gibraltar?"
"The same, señores. Are you the gentlemen who were so kind and attentive to her? It is quite a little romance this meeting. How odd, to think that we sat a whole night in the venta of Castellar and knew nothing about this! Then, doubtless, one of you must be that accomplished cavalier, Don Leja Mag Leja, concerning whom she wrote me so many letters when I was at Lagos."
With some laughter, we professed that neither of us was the portly Leechy Mac Leechy, to whose name the Donna had given somewhat of a Castilian character in her epistles to the major.
"But about the tertulia? we have no full uniform," urged Jack.
"Full uniform—bagatella!—stuff—come just as you are; but as your business here is about that unlucky guarda costa, 'tis as well my brother Hernan has not arrived; for he is in our naval service, and might feel piqued on the subject. Well, addio—I shall see you at eight to-night—don't forget, the street of the Alcazar," and with a salute he left us.
The sentinels at the door "handled" their arms as we ascended the flight of marble steps which led to the door of the captain general's palace.