can't read; but
it comes from the Senorita, and looks inside like a letter. The
Senorita got it from somebody at church yesterday morning: so thinks
Vicenza, for she saw her read it as soon as she got back from morning
prayers. Vicenza thinks that the girl Josefa brought it up the valley,
but the captain most likely can tell for himself."

Roblado had not listened to half of this talk; but had instead been
swallowing the contents of the paper. As soon as he had got to the end
of it he sprang from his chair as if a needle had been stuck into him,
and paced the room in great agitation.

"Quick! quick, Jose!" he exclaimed. "Send Gomez here. Say nothing to
any one. Hold yourself in readiness--I shall want you too. Send Gomez
instantly. _Vaya_!"

The soldier made a salute less cringing because more hurried, and
precipitately retired from the apartment. Roblado continued--

"By Heaven! this is a piece of luck! Who ever failed to catch a fool
when love was his lure? This very night, too, and at midnight! I shall
have time to prepare. Oh! if I but knew the place! 'Tis not given
here."

Again he read over the note.

"Carajo, no! that is unfortunate. What's to be done? I must not go
guessing in the dark! Ha! I have it! _She_ shall be watched!--watched
to the very spot! Vicenza can do that while we lie somewhere in ambush.
The girl can bring us to it. We shall have time to surround them.
Their interview will last long enough for that. We shall take them in
the very moment of their bliss. Hell and furies! to think of it--this
low dog--this butcher of buffaloes--to thwart me in my purposes! But
patience, Roblado! patience! to-night--to-night!--"

A knocking at the door. Sergeant Gomez was admitted.

"Gomez, get ready twenty of your men! picked fellows, do you hear? Be
ready by eleven o'clock. You have ample time, but see that you be ready
the moment I call you. Not a word to any one without. Let the men
saddle up and be quiet about it. Load your carbines. There's work for
you. You shall know what it is by and by. Go! get ready!"

Without saying a word, the sergeant went off to obey the order.

"Curses on the luck! if I but knew the place, or anything near it.
Would it be about the house? or in the garden? Maybe outside--in the
country somewhere? That is not unlikely. He would hardly venture so
near the town, lest some one might recognise him or his horse. Death to
that horse. No, no