Several hours passed without any cracking of branches or any trembling of the vegetation taking place to reveal the presence of the invisible watchers.
Then the sound of a voice and of horses was heard without, and six men entered the glade.
We already know these six men; we almost know what motive brought them into this place.
We have reported how their conversation was suddenly interrupted at its commencement by the unexpected appearance of Zeno Cabral.
The astonishment with which they were struck at the sight of the celebrated and bold Montonero cannot be described.
The latter enjoyed his triumph for a time.
"Eh! What, señores, you do not wish to continue the interesting conversation that I so awkwardly interrupted? Do you, then, find my presence among you out of place? Or do you think that I do not take to heart as much as you do the interests of the country?"
He was silent, appearing to await an answer; but the persons most interested in the strife had not yet sufficiently recovered from the emotion they had experienced to be certain of answering to advantage.
Zeno Cabral shrugged his shoulders.
"What! General Don Eusebio Moratín! You have not a word of welcome for me? Nor you either, Señor Dubois? Ah! my masters, do you know that this begins to look very strange to me; I see uniforms which ought not to appear here. Can I be deceived, and, thinking that I have come among friends, can I have fallen amongst conspirators?"