Don Cornelio looked around. The darkness was profound. A tall man with crafty air, and mustachios turned up, was examining him impudently while tapping the hilt of a long rapier.
"Eh, eh!" the Spaniard said with great composure, "Is that you, captain? What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you, Cristo."
"Well, here I am."
"That is fortunate. When do we start?"
"All is changed."
"Eh?"
"Lead me first to your encampment, where I will explain it all to you."
"Come."
Don Cornelio followed him. This captain, whom the reader has doubtless recognised, was the old soldier of the war of independence whom we had the honour of presenting to him under the name of Don Isidro Vargas, the confidential tool of General Guerrero, to whom he was attached like the blade to the hilt.