TWO ROGUISH PROFILES.
The city was quiet, the revolt was over, or, to speak more logically, the revolution was complete. The soldiers, after laying down their arms, had evacuated Valdivia, which was left completely in the power of the Dark-Hearts. As soon as peace was re-established, the Dark-Hearts gave orders that the barricades should be destroyed, and that all traces of the sanguinary struggle should be removed as quickly as possible. By the force of accomplished facts alone, Don Tadeo de Leon found himself quite naturally invested with power, and in command of the province, with the faculties of a dictator.
"Well," he asked Valentine, "what do you think of what you have seen?"
"Faith," the Parisian replied, with characteristic bluntness, "I think people must come to America to see how men can be caught with hook and line like simple gudgeons."
Don Tadeo could not refrain from smiling at this whimsical answer.
"Do not leave me," he said; "all is not over yet."
"I ask no better; but, our friends yonder, don't you think they will be very uneasy at our long absence?"
"Can you for a moment imagine that I have forgotten them? Within an hour you will be at liberty. Come with me; I want to show you two faces to which our victory has given an expression very different from that which they generally wear."
"That will be curious," said Valentine.
"Yes," Don Tadeo replied, "or hideous, whichever you please."