"My dear sir," the senator said, with a bow.
"Are you not expecting an answer from me?"
"It is so, but I did not dare to hope."
The Marquis cut him short.
"Let us come to the most important point first," he continued, with a smile. "Don Rufino, you have behaved to me like a real friend. By a miracle—for I can only attribute to a miracle the good fortune that has befallen me—I am in a position to arrange my affairs, and discharge my debt to you, although, be assured, I shall never forget the services you have rendered me, and the obligations I have contracted toward you."
The senator was so surprised, that he turned pale, and took a side-glance at the colonel.
"Obligations far greater than you suppose," the latter said, warmly.
"What do you mean, cousin?" the Marquis asked, in surprise.
"I mean that Don Rufino, unaware of the happy change in your fortunes, and wishing to save you from the frightful position in which you were, had bought up all your liabilities, and so soon as he had all the vouchers in his possession, he hurried with them to me, and implored me to destroy them. Here they are, cousin," he added, as he drew a bundle of papers from his pocket.
The various actors in this singular scene were affected by strange feelings. Don Ruiz and his sister exchanged a look of despair, for they understood that the Marquis would now be unable to refuse his consent to his daughter's marriage.