"What!" cried Don Fernando, as he put his foot out of doors, "Am I at the presidio of San Lucar?"
"Did you not know it?" asked his guide.
"How was it possible? I was brought here with my eyes bandaged."
In the court several horses, ready saddled, were tied to rings in the wall.
"Could you keep your saddle?" said the stranger.
"I hope so," replied Don Fernando.
"You must," said the stranger peremptorily.
"Then I will, even if I die in it."
"Good: let us mount and be gone."
At the very moment they were issuing into the street, a troop of ten or twelve mounted men were coming up at full gallop: they were not more than twenty paces off.