There were two men under thirty, but the majority were
middle-aged. They all seemed to Arithelli to have the same wild,
restless eyes. They called her "_Camarade_," and "_Amigo_," and
treated her not unkindly, but with an utter indifference to her sex.
All their sayings showed the most absolute disregard for human life.
"If a vase is cracked, break it. If your glove is worn out, throw it
away."
If they heard that some member of the band had found his way to the
fortress of Montjuich there was callous laughter and a speculation as
to whose turn it would be next.
Their meetings were held in divers places. Sometimes they would engage
a room at the Hotel Catalonia and hold what were supposed to be classes
for astronomy. Sobrenski was the lecturer, the rest posing as
students. If anyone came in unexpectedly it all looked beautifully
innocent--the big telescope by the open window, the books and papers
and charts, and Arithelli at the desk at the end of the room taking
shorthand notes of the lecture.
There were seldom more than three or four _rendezvous_ held in the same
place, and more than once there were alarms and rumours of a visit from
the police.
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