underneath the Viceroy's box, I may have mistaken many looks intended for him, as aimed at myself.
"The function began. They took the three sufferers under the arms and helped them to climb to the stake, which was a matter of some difficulty. You will easily understand it is not pleasant to be burnt alive. Finally, half by their own efforts, half by the help of others, they reached the platform. They were fastened to the rings with iron chains, for of course ropes would soon have been burnt through, and then the poor fellows, no doubt, would have leapt down and started running, all afire as they were, about the ring. This would have been a scandal for everybody in general and a calamity for their own souls in particular, as their thoughts would then have turned to making good their flight instead of accomplishing an edifying death; but, thanks to the iron chains which imprisoned feet and waist and neck, there is no danger of their moving a limb.
"But the most ingenious arrangement has its weak point; and instead of this danger there is another, namely, that the relatives of the condemned man may bribe the executioner, so that the latter, while fastening the chain round his neck, gives it an extra twist and strangles the victim. Then, you see, the sight loses more than half its interest, for to see a dead man burnt is quite a different thing from seeing a living one suffer the same fate. But on this occasion the executioner was a man of conscience, and all could feel assured that the sufferers were alive, for, rising above the prayers of the spectators, their cries for mercy could be plainly heard for more than ten minutes.
"When all was over, everyone ran to fill a little bag with ashes from the pile, these ashes possessing, it would appear, the same privilege as the rope with which a man has been hanged, viz., that of bringing good luck to families,
"I had just filled my bag like the rest when I felt a note slipped into my hand. I turned round to see an old woman, who put her finger on her lip, pronounced the two words 'Read it,' and walked away. After a few moments' surprise and hesitation I opened the note and read:
"'This evening at lo o'clock you are expected in the garden of the third house to the right of the great tank. The house in question has green sun-blinds; there are two cocoanut palms before the door. You must climb the wall and stop under the tree of sadness, where the same duenna who gave you this note will come for you.'
"I turned to look for the duenna and found she had halted a short distance away. I waved my hand in token of assent; she answered with a bow and disappeared."
CHAPTER XII
DONNA INEZ
"I HAD a pretty clear notion where the place of assignation was.
From the top of the town wall I had examined all the neighbourhood, and I had especially noticed, as a charming promenade, the banks of the tank referred to, on which all the rich Portuguese have pleasure-houses surrounded by gardens. As for the tree of sadness, so-called because it flowers only by night, I knew it from having seen one in the garden of the house I had taken.
"At half-past nine I left the city. I had with me three or four pearls, fine enough to ensure that my present, if it so happened I had a present to make, should not be despised. To guard against accidents I slipped a Cingalese poniard under my waistcoat, resolved to face bravely the risks of my nocturnal adventure.
"At a quarter to ten I reached the little house, which I recognised readily enough from the description I had received. I made a circuit in search of a spot in the garden-wall where I could climb over without undue difficulty. Presently I found a door, and it occurred to me that, to save me the trouble of climbing the wall, they had perhaps left this door open. I was not mistaken; it gave way when I pushed it, and I found myself in the garden.
"Once inside, I found no difficulty in discovering the place where I was to wait. Guided by its exquisite perfume, in another instant I was concealed beneath the heavy foliage of the tree of sadness. Its flowers, which open at ten at night, to close again at daybreak, were
