"'Completely.'"
"'Let them come down directly. I will wait for them here. Go, my son, time presses.'"
"'And you? Excellency,'"
"'You will bring me a hat, an esclavina, my sword and pistols. Come, make haste!'"
"Pepito did not let the order be repeated. Leaving the door open, he ran off. A few minutes after, some twenty bandits, armed to the teeth, rushed into the street, jostling one another. On coming up to the soldier, they saluted respectfully, and, at a sign from him, remained motionless and silent."
"Pepito had brought the articles demanded by the man whom the evangelista called Don Annibal, himself Don Torribio, and who, probably, had several other names, although we will keep temporarily to the latter."
"'Are the horses ready?' Don Torribio asked, as he concealed his uniform under the esclavina, and placed in his girdle a long rapier and a pair of double-barrelled pistols."
"'Yes, Excellency,' Pepito answered, hat in hand."
"'Good, my son. You will bring them to the spot I told you; but as it is forbidden to go about the streets on horseback by night, you will pay attention to the celadores and serenos.'"
"All the bandits burst into a laugh at this singular recommendation."