“Señora, as soon as the lesson is over—though I imagine that with the excitement that there is in the town, all the boys will play truant to-day——But in any case I will go to the house after class hours. I don’t wish you to go out alone, señora. Those vagabond soldiers are strutting about the streets with such insolent airs. Jacinto, Jacinto!”
“It is not necessary. I will go alone.”
“Let Jacinto go with you,” said the young man’s mother. “He must be up by this time.”
They heard the hurried footsteps of the little doctor, who was coming down the stairs in the greatest haste. He entered the room with flushed face and panting for breath.
“What is the matter?” asked his uncle.
“In the Troyas’ house,” said the young man, “in the house of those—those girls—”
“Finish at once!”
“Caballuco is there!”
“Up there? In the house of the Troyas?”
“Yes, señor. He spoke to me from the terrace, and he told me he was afraid they were coming there to arrest him.”