success?

"Will you tell me how Tiburcio Arellanos can be Fabian de Mediana?"
asked Don Augustin, with more curiosity than anger. "Who gave you this
information?"

"You were not present at the close of the stranger's narrative," replied
Dona Rosarita, "or you would have heard that the young companion of the
two brave hunters whose dangers he nobly shared, was no other than
Tiburcio Arellanos, now become the Count Fabian de Mediana. To this day
I am ignorant of how, alone and wounded, he quitted the hacienda, and by
what circumstances he found these unexpected protectors--or what
relationship exists between Tiburcio and the Duke de Armada. But this
man, who knows, will tell you."

"Let him be instantly sought," said Don Augustin, quickly; and he called
an attendant to whom he gave the order.

Don Augustin awaited with the greatest impatience, the return of
Gayferos; but they sought him in vain. He had disappeared. We shall
presently explain the motive of his departure. Almost at the same
moment in which the haciendado and his daughter were informed of it,
another attendant entered to announce that Tragaduros was dismounting in
the court-yard of the hacienda.

The coincidence of the Senator's return with the approaching arrival of
Fabian, was one of those events in which chance, oftener than might be
supposed, sports with the events of real life.

Rosarita, in order to secure an ally in her father, hastened to embrace
him tenderly, and to testify her astonishment at a miracle, which had
converted the adopted son of a gambusino into the heir of one of the
most powerful families in Spain. After having launched this twofold
dart against the Senator, the young girl vanished from the apartment,
leaving her father alone.

Tragaduros entered like a man who feels that the announcement of his
arrival is always welcome. His manner was that of a future kinsman, for
he had obtained the father's promise and the daughter's consent,
although that consent was only tacitly given. However, notwithstanding
his self-satisfaction, and his confidence in the future, the Senator
could not fail to remark the grave reserve of Don Augustin's manner. He
thought himself at liberty to remark it.

"Don Estevan de Arechiza, the Duke of Armada, is no more," said the
haciendado; "both you and I have lost a dear and noble friend."

"What, dead?" cried the Senator, hiding his face with an embroidered
cambric handkerchief. "Poor Don Est