Hermosa looked him in the face for an instant, and replied with an austerity unusual in her:
"Cousin, I cannot pray for the success of a journey the purport of which I do not know."
"Thanks for your frankness, señorita," he replied, without exhibiting emotion; "I shall not forget your words."
"So you are really going, Don Torribio?" said Don Pedro, who joined them at the moment.
"This very instant, cousin: all is ready for my departure."
"Then I wish you luck! I hope we shall soon hear from you?"
"Yes," he replied, with a singular expression; "you shall soon hear of me. Farewell!"
"What is the matter with your cousin, niña?" asked Don Pedro, when he found himself alone with his daughter: "His conduct tonight has been very strange."
Before she could answer, the door opened. "The capataz of the Hacienda de las Norias," said a peon who had entered, "wishes to speak to Señor Don Pedro de Luna on affairs of consequence."
"Admit him instantly," replied Don Pedro to the domestic who had announced the arrival of the capataz so pompously.