"Yes," he replied; "but lose no time, captain; here are the pagans! They are at my heels, and I am scarce half an hour ahead of them."
Without waiting to hear anything more, the colonel dashed out of the room.
"Where have you come from?" Don Rufino asked the bandit, so soon as he was alone with him.
The latter gave a start of disappointment on recognising the senator, whom he had not noticed at the first moment. This start did not escape Don Rufino.
"How does that concern you?" the adventurer answered, roughly.
"I want to know."
Kidd made a meaning grimace.
"Every man has his own business," he said.
"Some treachery you have been preparing, of course."
"That is possible," he replied, with a knowing grin.