"I betrayed you, it is true," Don Cornelio replied. "What next? I had probably a motive in doing so. I know you are going to say that you did me many services. What does that prove, if you did me in a single day more injury than all the good you did me during the course of our relations?"
"I did you an injury! You lie, you scoundrel!"
"Señor conde," Don Cornelio said with a haughty air, "I would remind you that I am a gentleman, and will not allow you to address me in the way you are now doing."
"This wretch is mad, on my soul!" the count said with a smile of pity. "Let him go, brother; he is unworthy of our anger: he only merits our contempt."
"Not so," Valentine sharply objected. "This man is the general's tool: we cannot let him go thus."
"What shall we do with him? Sooner or later we must release him."
"That is possible, but for the present we will hand him over to the care of Curumilla."
The Indian gave a nod of assent, and seizing Don Cornelio, led him away. The latter allowed him to do so without offering the slightest resistance.
"We shall meet again, gentlemen," he said with a mocking smile.
The Indian looked at him in a very peculiar manner, and drew him into another room. Doña Angela then emerged from behind the curtain.