Don Pablo, perceiving his old prisoner, uttered a cry of surprise.
"What!" cried he, "you here, Don Emile?"
"As you see," answered the young man.
"Then it is to you that we owe our safety?"
"After God, it is to me that you owe it, señor."
The partisan looked at the Frenchman with admiration.
"Is it possible," murmured he, "that such great and noble natures exist? Don Emile," said he, "I have done you serious injury; I persecuted you during all the time that you were at Casa-Frama, without any real reason. My conduct has been despicable; you ought to hate me, and you save me!"
"Because, Don Pablo," answered the young man, "you are a man in the true sense of the word; because your faults are those necessitated by the life you lead; because every good feeling is not dead within you, and your heart is generous. I do not claim the right of being more severe than God, and of condemning you to perish, when a hope of saving you existed."
"This obligation that you impose on me, Don Emile, I accept with joy. You have a better opinion of me than I dared to have of myself. I will try to show myself, for the future, worthy of what you have done for me today."
"You were acquainted with one another?" said Don Zeno.