"Pardon me, Madame, this overflow of spirits. I will explain myself. Don Sebastiao Vianna was not the name of the man who came to the camp to demand your liberty."
"Ah!" murmured she; "Is he a man I know?"
"You know him, certainly; his name is Zeno Cabral."
"Don Zeno Cabral?" cried she, in a fright; "That man! Oh, then, I am lost!"
"Reassure yourself, Madame; you are in safety."
"What do you mean?"
"Don Pablo has departed, Madame. I have started him off in pursuit of Don Zeno, by revealing to him the name of the latter. Thus, apparently, we are completely delivered from all our enemies."
The marchioness tendered him her hand.
"I thank you," said she. "Your devotedness never fails."
"And never shall fail, Madame. We have not long to remain here. It is necessary for us to make a last effort, and to compete in strategy with our enemies."