He at once had divined the author of the abduction of Rosario.
"What do you intend to do?" said Don Gregorio.
"Nothing, till the return of our scout," he replied, coldly; and then turning towards Valentine, added—"Well, my friend, have you nothing else to announce to me?"
"What leads you to suppose I have not told you all?" said the young man.
"Ah!" Don Tadeo replied, with a melancholy smile, "you know, my friend, that we Spanish Americans, however civilized we may appear, are still semi-barbarians, and, as such, horribly superstitious."
"Well?"
"Well, then, among other follies of the same kind, we place faith in proverbs; and is there not one which somewhere says, that a misfortune never comes singly?"
"Good Heavens! do you take me for a bird of ill omen, Don Tadeo?"
"God forbid, my friend! only search in your memory, I am sure I am not mistaken, and that you have still something else to inform me of."
"Well, you are right, I have other news to announce to you; whether good or bad, I leave you to judge."