"I will not believe it."
At this moment a servant opened the door, and announced:
"Don Torribio Quiroga!"
The two men shuddered, without being able to account for their emotion.
Don Torribio entered. He wore the magnificent uniform of a colonel in the Mexican service, and on his left arm the ribbons of an aide-de-camp. He bowed respectfully to the two officers.
"Is that you, Don Torribio?" said the colonel.
"I suppose it is," said the former smiling.
"When I last saw you, you were about to undertake a long journey."
"From which I have just returned."
"But the uniform you wear?"