"Upon my word, no; I have slept right off through the whole night. I only waked about half an hour ago."
"So much the better, master. I am delighted at what you tell me. If you did not tell it to me so decidedly, I frankly confess I should scarcely have believed you."
"Why?" asked he, with feigned astonishment.
"Because, master, the night has been anything but tranquil."
"Ah! Bah!" cried he, with the most natural air that he could assume; "What has happened, then? You understand that, buried here, at the bottom of this hole, I am ignorant of everything."
"A desperate battle has been fought close by here, between the Spaniards and the patriots."
"The devil! That is serious. And this combat has terminated?"
"Otherwise, should I be here, master?"
"That is right, my friend. And who have got the best of it?"
"The patriots."