"I will be with you in a moment."
Five minutes later at the most he appeared in the doorway.
"What do you want, señorita?" he said, with that calm obsequiousness habitual to servants who are spoiled by their masters; "I am very busy at this moment."
"That is possible, my good Lanzi," she answered softly; "but what I have to say to you admits of no delay."
"Oh, oh," he said, in a slightly suppressed tone, "what is the matter, then?"
"Nothing very extraordinary, my good man; everything in the venta is regular as usual. But I have a service to ask of you."
"Speak, señorita; you know that I am devoted to you."
"It is growing late, and it is probable that no traveller will arrive at the venta to-day."
The half-breed raised his head, and mentally calculated the position of the sun.
"I do not believe that any travellers will arrive to-day," he at length said, "for it is nearly four o'clock; still, they might come for all that."