"Dios le de a usted buena," the other politely replied, and he passed on, but suddenly turned round again. The tigrero rode to meet him.
"Ah!" the horseman said, when they met, "I felt sure that I was not mistaken. How is No Mariano?"
"Very well, and at your service," the tigrero answered, recognising the majordomo; "and you, No Paredes?"
"The same, thank you; are you going up to the toro, or returning to the rancho?"
"Why that question?"
"Because in the former case I would bid you good night, while in the latter we would ride together."
"Are you going to the rancho?"
"Yes; the Señor Marquis has sent me."
"Tell me, No Paredes, would there be any indiscretion on my part in asking you what you are going to do at the rancho at so late an hour?"
"Not the slightest, compadre. I am simply going to fetch Doña Marianna, who has remained today later than usual with her nurse. Her father is anxious about her long absence, and asked me to go and meet her if she were on her road home, or if not, push on to the rancho."