any other manifestation than a
deep groan.

It is scarcely necessary to say that the victim of this barbarous
treatment was Don Fernando Lacarra. The words of Arroyo have already
made this known to the reader.

Perfectly indifferent to the spectacle, Gaspacho, having introduced his
prisoner to the presence of Arroyo, walked out of the room.

As regards Don Cornelio, he stood where the robber had left him,
paralysed with horror. Independently of the compassion he felt for the
sufferer, he was under the suspicion that both Costal and Clara had
already perished, and that his own turn might come next.

While these fearful reflections were passing through his mind, a man
whom he had not before noticed now came up to him. This was an
individual with a jackal-like face, and the skulking mien of that
animal, with all its ferocious aspect.

"My good friend," said this man, addressing himself to Don Cornelio,
"you appear somewhat lightly clad for one who is about to present
himself before people of distinction."

Lantejas, in reality--thanks to the bandits who had captured him--was
almost naked: a torn shirt and drawers being all the clothing they had
left him.

"Senor Captain,"--said he, addressing the jackal-like individual, and
intending to account for the scantiness of his costume.

"Stop," interrupted the other, "not _captain_. Call me Colonel of
Colonels, if you please. It is a title which I have adopted, and no one
shall deprive me of it."

"Well then, Colonel of Colonels! if your people had not robbed me of my
broad cloth cloak, my hat of Vicuna wool, and various other articles of
clothing, you would not have seen me so lightly dressed. But it is not
only that which grieves me. I have other serious complaints to make--"

"The devil!" exclaimed the Colonel of Colonels, without heeding the last
remarks. "A broad cloth cloak and Vicuna hat, did you say? Two things
of which I stand particularly in need. They must be recovered."

"I have to complain of violence offered to my person," continued Don
Cornelio. "I am called Lantejas--Captain Lantejas. I serve the junta
of Zitacuaro, under the orders of General Morelos; and I bear from him a
commission, of which the proofs--"

A sudden thought interrupted the speech of Don Cornelio--a terrible
thought, for it just now occurred to him that his despatches, his
commission as captain, his letters of credence--in short, all the papers
by which he could prove