"Then she lives!" cried Ronie, in great joy.
"Si, señor. I can lead you to the place, and will if you will give me my liberty."
"That is beyond my power. I cannot—ha! here comes an officer now."
The newcomer was none other than Captain de Caprian, who asked:
"Whom have we here, señors?"
"A man we found prowling in the city under what we thought to be suspicions circumstances, so we stopped him. He is from San Carlos, and claims he is not a spy."
"I shall leave it for you to say what is to be done with him," said Francisco, "promising to see that he is fairly treated."
"I know not in regard to his being a spy," replied Ronie, "but he has given me valuable information in regard to my mother's fate."
"Does he know of her?" asked Francisco, eagerly. "That fact alone ought to save his life. What has he told you?"
In a few words Ronie explained what he had learned, when the other said, with an intonation of joy in his voice: