The count blushed.
"Well, no," he said. "I will conceal nothing from you. My destiny drags me on. I know that I am proceeding, not to conquest, but to death. But no matter; I must, I will see her again. Here, read!"
The count drew from his breast the letter Curumilla brought him, and handed it to Valentine; the latter read it.
"Well," he said, "I prefer your being frank with me. I will follow you."
"Thanks! Good heavens!" he added sadly, "I do not deceive myself: I know the old Latin proverb which says Non bis in idem: what is once missed is so for ever. I do not allow myself to be deceived by the hypocritical protestations of General Guerrero and his worthy acolyte, Señor Pavo. I know perfectly well that both will betray me on the first opportunity. Well, be it so. I shall have seen again the woman who expects me, who summons me, who is all in all to me. If I fall I shall have a tomb worthy of me. The road I have traced others happier than I will follow, and bear civilisation to those countries which you and I once dreamed of emancipating."
Valentine could not restrain a sad smile at these words, which completely revealed the count's character—a strange composite of the most varying elements, and in which passion, pride, and enthusiasm waged an unceasing contest.
The next day Louis opened a recruiting office, and a week later embarked on board a schooner with his volunteers. The voyage commenced with an evil augury, for the adventurers were wrecked. Had it not been for Curumilla, who saved him at the risk of his life, it would have been all over with the count. The adventurers remained twelve days abandoned on a rock.
"The Romans would have seen a foreboding in our shipwreck," the count said with a sigh, "and would have given up an expedition so inauspiciously begun."
"We should do wisely in following their example," Valentine said sadly: "there is yet time."
The count shrugged his shoulders in reply. A few days later they arrived at Guaymas. Señor Pavo received the count most kindly, and proposed, himself, to present him to the general.