"What are you looking for?" the count asked him; "and what is the meaning of the state in which I see you?"
"It means——" Valentine answered. "But stay, better so. Take a glance at these papers which I seized in the house of General Guerrero."
He handed the count a bundle of letters and other papers, which the other rapidly read through.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, stamping his foot passionately, "such great ingratitude after so many acts of kindness! A thousand devils! this land is, then, accursed, that treason should spring up under every blade of grass."
"Fortunately we have the proofs to hand. I will take on myself to arrest the villain."
"It is too late."
"How too late?" the hunter exclaimed. "Where is he, then?"
"He has set out on a mission of the highest importance, which I intrusted to him for the leaders of the malcontents."
"Confusion!" the hunter said; "what is to be done? It is plain that the scoundrel will sell our secrets to the enemy."
"Wait. I gave him a letter for Don Rafaël, which he cannot fail to deliver."