"Ah, ah! It is you, Birbomono," the young man said, as he carelessly touched his hat; "what the deuce are you doing here? I fancied you were hung long ago."
"Your Excellency is jesting," the other replied, with an ill-tempered grimace, "I am the Señora's Major-domo."
"I compliment her on it, and you, too."
"The Señora was very anxious about your Excellency, and I was preparing, by her orders, to make a battue in the neighbourhood. She will be delighted to see you arrive without misadventure."
"What misadventure?" the young man said, as he loosened his rein; "What do you mean, scamp? And what had I to fear on the roads?"
"Your Excellency cannot be ignorant that the ladrones infest the savannahs."
The young man burst into a laugh.
"The ladrones! What a pleasant story you are telling me, too; come, run and announce my arrival to my sister, without further chattering."
The Major-domo did not let the order be repeated, but bowed, and set off at a gallop.
Ten minutes later, Don Sancho dismounted in front of the peristyle of the hatto, where a young lady of rare beauty, but cadaverous pallor, and who appeared hardly able to keep up, as she was so weak and ill, was awaiting his arrival.