Two of the strange soldiers instantly rushed up and seized the man by the arms. The officer spoke two words, they saluted and marched off their prisoner.
Instantly the crowd was ebbing back into the plaza, unconcerned. Kate sat on a bench with her heart beating. She saw the prisoner pass under a lamp, streaks of blood on his cheek. And Juana, who had fled, now came scuttling back and took Kate’s hand, saying:
“Look! Niña! It is the General!”
She rose startled to her feet. The officer was saluting her.
“Don Cipriano!” she said.
“The same!” he replied. “Did that drunken fellow frighten you?”
“Not much! Only startled me. I didn’t feel any evil intention behind it.”
“No, only drunk.”
“But I shall go home now.”
“Shall I walk with you?”