"To HEAR such assurances from beautiful and eloquent lips like those before me," he said, with his old oratorical wave of the hand, but a passing shadow across his mild eyes, "is more than sufficient.In my experience of life I have been favored, at various emergencies, by the sympathy and outspoken counsel of your noble sex; the last time by Mrs.Euphemia M'Corkle, of Peoria, Illinois, a lady of whom you have heard me speak--alas! now lately deceased.A few lines at present lying on yonder table--a tribute to her genius--will be forwarded to you, dear Mrs.Markham.But let us change the theme.You are looking well--and you, too, Miss Keene.From the roses that bloom on your cheeks--nourished by the humid air of Todos Santos--I am gratified in thinking you have forgiven me your enforced detention here."At a gesture from the Commander he ceased, stepped back, bowed gravely, and the ladies recognized that their brief audience had terminated.As they passed through the gateway, looking back they saw Perkins still standing with the child on his shoulder and smiling affably upon them.Then the two massive doors of the gateway swung to with a crash, the bolts were shot, and the courtyard was impenetrable.......
A few moments later, the three friends had passed the outermost angle of the fortifications, and were descending towards the beach.
By the time they had reached the sands they had fallen into a vague silence.