But he made no comment and asked no questions.
There are two old monasteries on the Villaba road; huge buildings within a high wall, each owning a chapel which stands apart from the dwelling-house.

It is a known fact that the Carlists have never threatened these buildings which stand far outside the town.

It is also a fact that the range of them has been carefully measured by the artillery officers, and the great guns on the city walls were at this time trained on the isolated buildings to batter them to the ground at the first sign of treachery.
Marcos pulled the bell-rope swinging in the wind outside the great door of the monastery, while Sarrion tied the horses to a post.

The door was opened by a stout monk whose face fell when he perceived two laymen in riding costume.

Humbler persons, as a rule, rang this bell.
"The Marquis de Mogente is here ?" said Marcos, and the monk spread out his hands in a gesture of denial.
"Whoever is here," he said, "is in Retreat.