"Well, come along, you shall dine with me, and bye-and-by we will go out again. Give me your hand; I will not have you leave me."
When they reached home, Don Francisco was in the forecourt with two other gentlemen; Marianela recognized the engineer of the mines and the stranger who had lost his way in La Terrible the night before.
"Here are the Señor ingeniero," said she, "and his brother—the gentleman of last evening."
All three men gazed with evident interest at the blind youth as he approached.
"We have been expecting you some time, my son," said the father, taking his hand and introducing him to the doctor.
"Let us go indoors," said the engineer.
"Blessings on all men of science with good hearts!" exclaimed Don Francisco, turning to the doctor. "Walk in, gentlemen; happy is the hour when you enter my house."
"Now, let us study the case," murmured Golfin.
When Pablo and the two visitors had gone in, Don Francisco turned to Mariquilla, who was standing transfixed and doubtful in the middle of the court-yard, and said kindly: