ersation, in which L'Isle, while
sipping chocolate with the Spaniard, took occasion to abuse the French
roundly, which was agreeable enough to his host; but he quite won his
heart by the unfeigned contempt and abhorrence he expressed for the
_Afrancesados_.

L'Isle soon found that, in spite of his unsoldierly undress, the Don
was a sturdy old fellow, who chafed at being shut up in a garrison,
surrounded by defensive walls and moats. He longed to take the field
and become the assailant.

"I trust we will all be in the field shortly," said L'Isle, echoing
his sentiment. "But we have wily foes to deal with. All their great
successes have been won by surprise, aided by traitors among us. They
are now evidently anxious to anticipate us, and if we delay long,
there is no knowing where the first blow may fall. I wonder," said he,
with a puzzled look, "why they keep so large a force at Trujillo, and
have such strong detachments foraging on this side the mountains of
Toledo? A few marches may unite then near us."

"Do you suppose that they are thinking of Badajoz?" asked the
Spaniard, looking as if L'Isle had seized him by the shoulders, and
roughly waked him up.

"Marshal Soult has an eye this way, and would give more than his
little finger to have it again," said L'Isle; "for nothing would cramp
our movements more than the loss of it. They have now, indeed, little
chance of success, we know," he added, bowing to the governor, "but
may think it worth trying. Their leaders think nothing of risking the
loss of a thousand men or so, on the slenderest chance of a great
prize. The conscription fills up all these gaps."

"No doubt; no doubt. But we will watch the rascals closely," said the
governor.

"I dare say," said L'Isle laughing, "you have a spy or two in
Trujillo, besides the lynx-eyed, keen-eared scouts you keep on the
roads, and in the villages around you."

"We get intelligence--we get intelligence," said the Spaniard
evasively. "But as the French are now moving, it will be well to
bestir ourselves, to find out what they are at."

These, and other hints, that L'Isle threw out--not as advice, but
inquiries and chance suggestions, being mingled with deferential
attention to all the Spaniard had to say--neither startled his vanity,
nor chafed his pride. He was pleased with L'Isle, talked frankly to
him, and presented him ceremoniously to his officers, who now began to
wait upon him. When L'Isle was about to take his