e wanted some head cooler than his own. Where was Roblado?

"Sergeant! tell Captain Roblado I wish to speak with him."

Captain Roblado was just the man to assist him in any scheme of the
sort. They were equally villains as regarded women; but Vizcarra's
_metier_ was of a lighter sort--more of the genteel-comedy kind. His
forte lay in the seductive process. He made love _a la Don Giovanni_,
and carried hearts in what he deemed a legitimate manner; whereas
Roblado resorted to any means that would lead most directly to the
object--force, if necessary and safe. Of the two Roblado was the
coarser villain.

As the Comandante had failed in his way, he was determined to make trial
of any other his captain might suggest; and since the latter knew all
the "love stratagems," both of civilised and savage life, he was just
the man to suggest something.

It chanced that at this time Roblado wanted counsel himself upon a
somewhat similar subject. He had proposed for Catalina, and Don
Ambrosio had consented; but, to the surprise of all, the Senorita had
rebelled! She did not say she would _not_ accept Captain Roblado. That
would have been too much of a defiance, and might have led to a summary
interference of paternal authority. But she had appealed to Don
Ambrosio for time--she was not ready to be married! Roblado could not
think of time--he was too eager to be rich; but Don Ambrosio had
listened to his daughter's appeal, and there lay the cause of the
captain's trouble.

Perhaps the Comandante's influence with Don Ambrosio might be the means
of overruling this decision and hastening the wished-for nuptials.
Roblado was therefore but too eager to lay his superior under an
obligation.

Roblado having arrived, the Comandante explained his case, detailing
every circumstance that had happened.

"My dear colonel, you did not go properly to work. I am astonished at
that, considering your skill and experience. You dropped like an eagle
upon a dovecot, frightening the birds into their inaccessible holes.
You should not have gone to the rancho at all."

"And how was I to see her?"

"In your own quarters; or elsewhere, as you might have arranged it."

"Impossible!--she would never have consented to come."

"Not by your sending for her direct; I know that."

"And how, then?"

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Roblado; "are you so innocent as never to have
heard of such a thing as an `_alcahuete_'?"

"Oh! true--but by my faith