“They will capture you. It will be a perfect opportunity of taking you prisoner. Can’t you see that?”

“With several hundred men as an escort?” El Diablo asked. “You heard him say I could bring as many as I like and I have many supporters and friends in Jācara itself. Don’t worry, my dear, you are not going to get rid of me quite so easily.”

Skye turned away from him petulantly.

“I was not thinking of that,” she retorted.

“What is troubling me is what is going to happen to you,” El Diablo said. “I suppose I shall have to leave you here.”

“No – no, you could not be so mean! I want to see what happens. Let me come with you – I must!”

“So that you can escape as soon as I am busy discussing matters of national importance?” El Diablo asked ironically.

“No, I won’t do that – I promise you. If you let me come, I swear to you that I will not escape, even if the opportunity presents itself – not tomorrow at any rate, not until my parole is finished.”

El Diablo smiled at her eagerness.

“I thought you just told me that the whole meeting is a trap and dangerous, do you want to run into danger?”

“I am not afraid of danger,” Skye replied, “but I am afraid of being left here alone. I could not bear it, not after what happened yesterday.”

She went suddenly pale at the thought and put out her hand and laid it on his arm.

“Please take me with you,” she pleaded in a small voice. “Please!”

He hesitated.

“I should feel more satisfied of your safety if I was within earshot,” he replied. “At the same time think of the comment it will cause if I go riding into Jācara with a golden-haired Englishwoman whose yacht has been sitting empty in the harbour for over ten days. My reputation might suffer!”

“I will disguise myself,” she said quickly. “No one will think it is odd that you have a woman with you. But it will cause comment if she is fair. I will wear a handkerchief pirate-fashion around my head and a sombrero. The hat will shade my face and I can also put on some dark glasses.”

“We might get away with it,” El Diablo said doubtfully.

“We can try,” Skye pleaded. “No one knows me in Jācara and anyway, if you are taking hundreds of men with you, I will be lost amongst the crowd.”

“I suppose I must agree,” El Diablo conceded. “And now I have a great deal to do and to arrange. You are to stay here. Is that understood?”

“If I may come with you tomorrow – I will do anything you say today,” Skye answered.

He laughed.

“I am not in the habit of making bargains,” he said, “but I will remember your offer.”