The whole thing had
been done without thinking, as an animal driven into a corner turns,
snarling and showing its teeth.
Sobrenski recovered himself first and laughed.
"So you thought it was loaded?" he said. "Do you take me for a fool?
Allow me to congratulate you on your--failure!"
Then changing his tone of sarcasm to command: "You must hide that
pistol carefully. Put it inside your dress or somewhere safe. I
suppose you would like to march down the Paseo de Gracia, carrying it
in your hand, and wearing a tragic expression,--and get locked up by
the first agent de police you meet! You have pluck enough, but you
should avoid these exhibitions of hysteria."
He gripped her by the shoulder, swung her round, and pointed to the
door, "_Allez_!"
CHAPTER XXI
"My crown is without leaves,
For she sits in the dust and grieves,
Now we are come to our kingdom."
"Anthony and Cleopatra," KIPLING.
Once more the procession of conspirators toiled on its way up the
irregular mountain path. The horses slipped and stumbled under their
unskilful riders, the mules climbed steadily upwards.
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