"Make haste, then, to inform your colleagues; time presses."
"Instantly; where shall I find you again?"
"Here."
"Very well; I only ask five minutes," and he strode away in haste.
"Hem!" thought Don Pedro, as soon as he was alone; "we should be prudent when we wish affairs to be profitable; from what I heard, they will condemn the General, and they must not be allowed to go as far as that, for my interests would suffer too seriously; I have manoeuvred so as to be safe from all suspicion; if I succeed, I shall be more in favour with the General than ever, without losing the confidence of the conspirators."
"Well!" he said, as he saw Diego coming towards him.
"Everything is done," replied the sergeant, out of breath. "I am ready."
"Come on, then, and God grant it may not be too late!"
"Amen!" said the soldier.
Everything was done as had been arranged; whilst one detachment vigorously attacked the gate of the Quinta Verde, Don Pedro led the troops commanded by Diego to the opposite side of the house, where a low window was open; this window was grated, but several bars had been removed beforehand, which left the entrance easy. Pedro commanded the soldiers to be silent, and they entered the house one by one. Guided by the spy, they advanced stealthily, without meeting with obstacles of any kind. At the end of a few minutes they came to a closed door.