f fruit to
follow. Verily a supper at which even a gourmand might not cavil;
though it was but the _debris_ of a dinner, which seemed to have been
partaken of by a goodly array of guests.

Not long lingered they over it, before whom it was set a second time.
Overcome by the toil and struggle of days, and more the mental worry
attendant, even the wine freely quaffed failed to excite them afresh.
Rest and sleep they more needed and much desired; all glad when Gregorio
again showed his face at the door, saying--

"_Caballeros_, your sleeping rooms are ready."

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

ANXIOUS HOURS.

"See, Luisita! Yonder go soldiers!"

"Where?"

"Along the calzada of Nino Perdido--under the trees--by the thick
clump--they're galloping!"

"_Santissima_, yes! I see them now. O Ysabel! if they overtake the
carriage! _Ay Dios_!"

"_Ay Dios_, indeed! It's to be hoped they won't, though. And I have
less fear of it now than ever. It must have gone that way, or the
soldiers wouldn't be there; and as it couldn't have stopped at the
_garita_, it should now be a good distance on. Keep up your heart,
_amiga mia_, as I do mine. They'll soon be safe, if they're not yet."

This exclamatory dialogue was carried on while the alarm bells were
still ringing, and the guns booming. The speakers were on the azotea of
Don Ignacio's house, up to which they had hastened soon as home--having
dismissed their escort below, and left orders for no visitors to be
admitted.

In the _mirador_, with opera-glasses to their eyes, they had been
scanning the roads which led south and south-west from the city. Only
for a few minutes, as they had but just got back, and as the carriage
having already rounded the turning to Coyoacan, they saw but the
pursuing soldiers. Those were the Hussars, with Santander at their
head, though the ladies knew not that.

Fortified by the hopeful speech of the Condesa, the other responded to
it with an added word of hope, and a prayer for the safe escape of those
they were concerned about.

Then for a while both remained silent, with the lorgnettes to their
eyes, following the movements of the soldiers along the road. Soon
these were out of sight, but their whereabouts could be told by the
cloud of white dust which rose over the trees, gradually drifting
farther and farther off.

At length it too disappeared, settling down; and as the bells ceased to
ring, and the cannon to be fired, the city, wit