"Don Tadeo!" Rosario cried, starting back with surprise.
"Yes!" the Linda said, furiously; "yes, Don Tadeo, your lover!"
The maiden sprang towards Doña Maria, and seizing her arm violently, and placing her face, inflamed with anger, close to that of the courtezan, who was stupefied at the energy she could not have expected from this delicate creature, cried indignantly,—
"What have you dared to say, madam? Don Tadeo my lover! It is false, madam!"
"Can this be true?" the Linda asked, eagerly. "Can I have been so grossly mistaken? But then," she added, mistrustfully, "who are you? and by what title does he keep you always with him?"
"I will tell you who I am, madam!" Rosario replied, proudly.
All at once the hasty gallop of several horses was heard from without, mingled with cries and oaths.
"What can the matter be?" said Doña Maria, turning pale.
"Oh!" said Doña Rosario, clasping her hands fervently; "oh, my God! are you sending me liberators?"
"You are not free yet," the Linda said, with a bitter smile.