Mercedes threw herself into her brother's arms with tears.
"Come, come, little maid," Doña Concha said, as she drew her away, "do not cry thus, you will see them again, wipe your eyes, for I mean you to be happy, do you understand? Come, smile at once, my darling, and follow me."
The sentinel's horn at this moment announced that a stranger was asking admission to the estancia.
"Thanks, once again, Don Valentine," Pedrito said, "we go away with minds at rest."
"Good-bye, till we meet again, my friends."
Pedrito and Pepe, light both in body and mind, left the estancia, and crossed on their passage a horseman, who was coming up to the steps at a sharp trot.
"That is strange," said Pedrito, "where have I seen that man? I do not know, but I feel certain I have met him before."
"Do you know Don Torribio Carvajal?" the capataz asked.
"I am not aware if that is the Caballero's name, who he is, or where I have seen him; still, I am certain that we met a very little while ago."
"Ah!"