e
greatly obliged to you if you will accompany my niece on an errand
which she has to do to-night, and if you will protect her, if she should
chance to be in any danger.'"

"I can do that. To accompany you, to protect you. Ah, rogue! you want to
deceive me and make me your accomplice in some piece of villany."

"Of course--what do you suppose?" said Maria Remedios ironically.
"Between Ramos and me we are going to slaughter a great many people
to-night."

"Don't jest! I tell you again that I will not advise Ramos to do any
thing that has the appearance of evil--I think he is outside."

A noise at the street-door was heard, then the voice of Caballuco
speaking to the servant, and a little later the hero of Orbajosa entered
the room.

"What is the news? Give us the news, Senor Ramos," said the priest.
"Come! If you don't give us some hope in exchange for your supper and
our hospitality----What is going on in Villahorrenda?"

"Something," answered the bravo, seating himself with signs of fatigue.
"You shall soon see whether we are good for anything or not."

Like all persons who wish to make themselves appear important, Caballuco
made a show of great reserve.

"To-night, my friend, you shall take with you, if you wish, the money
they have given me for--"

"There is good need of it. If the soldiers should get scent of it,
however, they won't let me pass," said Ramos, with a brutal laugh.

"Hold your tongue, man. We know already that you pass whenever you
please. Why, that would be a pretty thing! The soldiers are not
strait-laced gentry, and if they should become troublesome, with a
couple of dollars, eh? Come, I see that you are not badly armed. All you
want now is an eight-pounder. Pistols, eh? And a dagger too."

"For any thing that might happen," said Caballuco, taking the weapon
from his belt and displaying its horrible blade.

"In the name of God and of the Virgin!" exclaimed Maria Remedios,
closing her eyes and turning her face in terror, "put away that thing.
The very sight of it terrifies me."

"If you won't take it ill of me," said Ramos, shutting the weapon, "let
us have supper."

Maria Remedios prepared every thing quickly, in order that the hero
might not become impatient.

"Listen to me a moment, Senor Ramos," said Don Inocencio to his
guest, when they had sat down to supper. "Have you a great deal to do
to-night?"

"Something there is to be done," responded the bravo. "This is the last
ni