"Justice has been done, brothers," said Don Tadeo, solemnly; "go in peace, the King of Darkness watches over you."
The conspirators bowed respectfully, and disappeared one after the other, without uttering a word. At the end of a quarter of an hour no one remained in the vault but Don Tadeo and Don Gregorio.
"Oh!" said Don Tadeo, "Shall we always have thus to combat treachery?"
"Courage! my friend; you have yourself said, in a few hours war will commence in the face of day."
"God grant I may not be deceived! This contest in the dark makes frightful demands upon the mind; my heart begins to fail me!"
The two conspirators regained the chingana, in which the dancing, laughing, and drinking were going on with undiminished spirit; they passed through so as not to be observed, and came out into the street. They had hardly walked fifty steps when they were joined by a man, who, to their great surprise, proved to be Valentine Guillois.
"God be praised for bringing you here so opportunely!" said Don Tadeo.
"I hope I am punctual," the Parisian remarked, with a gay laugh.
Don Tadeo pressed his hand warmly, and drew him towards his residence, where our three personages soon arrived.