"Eh, my friend? I am so in every way."
"What! will you really break down when the hour of danger has pealed?"
"I do not fear it: it will be welcome. I should wish to die, brother."
"Come, be a man. Regain your courage, but make haste. Have you noticed the arms and ammunition continually arriving? Believe me, we must make an end of it, one way or other, as speedily as possible."
"Yes, I know as well as you that the general is deceiving us; but these volunteers are not the men I had at Hermosillo. These fellows hesitate and are afraid. Their commandant is incapable of acting: he is a vacillating, irresolute man. With such people we can achieve nothing."
"I am afraid so: still it is better to know at once on what you have to depend than to remain any longer in this state of uncertainty."
"Tomorrow the delegates will go and see the general."
"Let them go to the deuce: they will be at least certain of obtaining a categorical answer from him," Valentine said impatiently.
At this moment two light taps were heard at the street door.
"Who can arrive so late?" the count said. "I expect nobody."