the mansion of Don Ambrosio was
dark and silent. Its master was not at home. A grand banquet had been
provided at the Presidio by Vizcarra and Roblado, to which all the
grandees of the settlement had been invited. Don Ambrosio was among the
number. At this hour he was at the Presidio, feasting and making merry.

It was not a ladies' festival, therefore Catalina was not there. It
was, indeed, rather an extemporised affair--a sort of jubilee to wind up
the performances of the day. The officers and priests were in high
spirits, and had put their heads together in getting up the improvised
banquet.

The town had become silent, and the mansion of Don Ambrosio showed not a
sign of life. The portero still lingered by the great gate, waiting his
master's return; but he sat inside upon the banqueta of the zaguan, and
seemed to be asleep.

He was watched by those who wished him to sleep on.

The large door of the _caballeriza_ was open. Within the framework of
the posts and lintels the form of a man could be distinguished. It was
the groom Andres.

There was no light in the stable. Had there been so, four horses might
have been seen standing in their stalls, saddled and bridled. A still
stranger circumstance might have been observed--around the hoofs of each
horse were wrapped pieces of coarse woollen cloth, that were drawn up
and fastened around the ankles! There was some design in this.

The door of the caballeriza was not visible from the zaguan; but at
intervals the figure within the stable came forth, and, skulking along,
peeped around the angle of the wall. The portero was evidently the
object of his scrutiny. Having listened a while, the figure again
returned to its place in the dark doorway, and stood as before.

Up to a certain time a tiny ray of light could be detected stealing
through the curtains of a chamber-door--the chamber of the senorita.
All at once the light silently disappeared; but a few moments after, the
door opened noiselessly. A female figure glided softly forth, and
turned along under the shadow of the wall, in the direction of the
caballeriza. On reaching the open doorway she stopped, and called in a
low voice--

"Andres!"

"_Aqui, Senorita_!" answered the groom, stepping a little more into the
light.

"All saddled?"

"Si, Senorita."

"You have muffled their hoofs?"

"Every one, Senorita."

"Oh! what shall we do with him," continued the lady in a tone of
distress, an