At the end of an hour, don Jaime left the palace followed by López, went to the house in the suburbs, where he found the count and his friend, who wholly occupied with their love, and indifferent to the events that were going on around them, spent whole days with those whom they loved, enjoying with the happy carelessness of youth the present, which seemed to them so sweet, without wishing to think of the future.
"Oh, here you are at last, brother!" do?a María exclaimed joyfully. "What a stranger you have grown!"
"Business!" the adventurer answered with a smile.
The table was laid in the centre of the room. The count's two menservants were preparing to serve, and Leo Carral, with a napkin on his arm, was waiting for the party to sit down.
"My faith, since supper is on the table," don Jaime said gaily, "I will not let you sup alone with these caballeros, if you will permit me to bear you company."
"What happiness!" do?a Carmen exclaimed.
The gentlemen offered a hand to the ladies and led them to their seats, after which they sat down by their side. The supper began. It was as it should be among persons who had loved and known each other for a long time—that is to say, cheerful and full of pleasant intimacy. Never had the young ladies been so happy, for this unexpected pleasure charmed them. The hours passed rapidly, but no one thought of calling attention to the fact: all at once midnight struck on a clock standing on a console in the dining room The twelve strokes fell one after the other with a majestic slowness into the midst of the conversation, which they suddenly chilled and stopped.
"Good gracious!" do?a Dolores exclaimed, with a slight start of terror, "So late!"
"How time passes!" don Jaime said carelessly. "We must now think of going."
They left the table; and the three friends, after promising to visit the three recluses as often and soon as possible, at length withdrew, leaving the ladies at liberty to retire. López was waiting for his master under the zaguán.
"What do you want?" the latter asked him.
"We are spied," the peon answered. He led him to the gate and noiselessly pulled back the bolt.
Don Jaime looked out. Exactly opposite the gate a man was standing, almost confounded with the darkness that prevailed in a hollow formed by the scaffolding of a house under repair. It would have escaped any less piercing glance than that of the adventurer.
"I believe you are right," don Jaime said to the peon. "In any case, it is urgent to make sure, and I will undertake it," he added between his teeth, with a terrible expression. "Change cloak and hat with me. You will accompany these caballeros. The man saw three persons enter, and he must see three depart. Now mount and be off."
"But," said Dominique, "I fancy it would be more simple to kill the man."
"That may happen," don Jaime answered; "but I wish to make certain beforehand that he is a spy: I do not care to commit a mistake. Do not be anxious about me, within half an hour I will join you again and inform you of what has taken place between this man and myself."
"Good-bye for the present, then," the count said, shaking his hand.
"Good-bye."
They then went out, followed by Leo Carral and the count's two servants. Do?a María's old servant closed the gate with a bang, but was careful to open it again noiselessly. Don Jaime placed himself at the wicket, whence it was easy to watch all the movements of the supposed spy. At the noise caused by the departure of the young men, the latter eagerly bent forward, doubtless to remark the direction they followed, and then returned to his dark corner, where he resumed his statuesque immobility. Nearly a quarter of an hour passed ere the man made the slightest movement. Don Jaime did not lose him out of sight. At length he cautiously emerged from his hiding place, looked carefully around him, and reassured by the solitude of the street, he ventured to take a few steps forward; then, after a moment's hesitation, he boldly advanced toward the house, crossing the street in a straight line. Suddenly the gate opened and he found himself face to face with don Jaime. He made a sudden backward movement and tried to fly, but the adventurer seized his arm which he held as in a vice, and dragging him after him, in spite of the obstinate resistance he offered, he drew him up to a statuette of the Virgin placed in a niche above a shop, in front of which some tapers were burning, and then, with a backhander he knocked off his prisoner's hat and curiously examined his features.
"Ah, se?or Jesús Domínguez," he said an instant after, in an ironical voice, "is it you? ?Viva Dios! I did not expect to meet you here."
The poor wretch looked piteously at the man in whose power he was, but made no answer. The adventurer waited a moment, then seeing that his prisoner was decidedly determined, on not answering him, he said, as he gave him a rough shake:—
"Come, scoundrel, are you going to answer or no?"
The prisoner gave a hollow groan.
"It is El Rayo or the fiend!" he muttered in horror, as he looked despairingly at the masked face of the man who held him so securely.
"It is certainly one or the other," the adventurer continued with a laugh. "So you are in good hands and need not feel alarmed. Now be good enough to tell me how it is that you, a guerillero and highway robber, have become a spy and doubtless an assassin, if necessary, in this capital."
"Misfortunes, Excellency. I was calumniated. I was too honest!"
"You? Hang me if I believe a word of it. I know you too thoroughly, scoundrel, for you to try to deceive me. Hence decide to tell me the truth, and that at once, without further subterfuge, or I will kill you like the cowardly zopilote you are."
"Would you have any objection, Excellency, to hold my arm not quite so tightly? You are twisting it so cruelly, that it must be broken."
"Very good," he said, loosing his hold; "but make no attempt to fly, for you would suffer for it. Now speak."
Jesús Domínguez, on feeling himself delivered from the adventurer's rough grasp, gave a sigh of relief, shook his arm several times, in order to re-establish the circulation, and then decided on speaking.
"I will tell you first, Excellency," he said, "that I am still a guerillero, and have risen to the rank of lieutenant."
"All the better for you. But what are you doing here?"
"I am on an expedition."
"On an expedition, alone, in Mexico? What! Are you laughing at me, villain?"
"I swear, on the share I hope in Paradise, that I am telling you the strict truth, Excellency. Besides, I am not here alone; my captain accompanies me, and it was by his express orders I came."
"Ah, ah! And who is this captain?"
"Oh, you know him, Excellency,"
"That is probable. But he has a name, I suppose?"
"Certainly Excellency. He is don Melchior de la Cruz."
"I suspected it. Now I can guess all. You are ordered to spy do?a Dolores de la Cruz, I suppose?"
"Yes, Excellency."
"Good, what next?"
"Well, that is all, Excellency."
"Oh, no, it is not, my scamp; there is something more yet."
"But I assure you—"
"Ah, I see I must employ a grand method," he said, coldly, cocking a pistol.
"Why, what are you doing, Excellency?" he exclaimed in terror.
"I should think you can see that I am simply preparing to blow out your brains. Hence, if you wish to try and commend your soul to Heaven, make haste and do it, as you have only two minutes left to live."
"But that is not the way to make me speak," he said, with simplicity.
"No," the adventurer answered, coldly; "but it will make you hold your tongue."
"Hum," he said, "you employ such excellent arguments, Excellency, that it is impossible to resist you. I prefer telling you everything!"
"You will act wisely."
"Well, this is the matter in a few words. I was not only ordered to watch do?a Dolores, but also the old and young lady with whom she resides, as well as all the persons who visit them."
"Hang it all! That was work enough for one man."
"Not too much, Excellency. They hardly receive any visits."
"And since when have you carried on this honourable trade, scoundrel?"
"About ten or twelve days, Excellency."
"So, then, you were one of the bandits who attempted to enter the house by main force?"
"Yes, Excellency, but we did not succeed."
"I know it. Are you well paid by your employer?"
"He has not given me anything yet, I must allow; but he has promised me fifty ounces."
"Oh! Promises cost don Melchior nothing. It is easier to promise fifty ounces than to give ten piastres."
"Do you think so, Excellency? Is he not rich?"
"He? He is poorer than yourself."
"In that case he must be badly off, for up to the present all my savings consist of debts."
"I really think you are a precious ass, and that you deserve what has happened to you."
"I! Excellency?"
"Hang it! Yes, who else? What, scoundrel! You attach yourself to a villain who has not a farthing—who is hopelessly ruined, instead of taking side with those who could pay you."
"Who are they, if you please, Excellency? I confess that I have very long fingers, and would serve such persons enthusiastically."
"I do not doubt it. Do you fancy that I am going to amuse myself by giving you advice?"
"Ah! if you would, Excellency, I should be delighted to serve you."
"You? Nonsense."
"Why not, Excellency?"
"H............