"Do not let that distress you, caballero; I am quite ready—"
"No, no," he quickly replied, "do not let us speak of that; I shall gain with others what I have lost with them. I wish now to tell you that I am delighted with what has happened. Bah! you please me—much better that it is so. Besides, these women weary me; they weep continually—it is insupportable."
"Just so; you were saying, then?—"
"Well, I was saying that if I could be agreeable to you in anything, I should be happy if you would allow me to show the esteem I have for you."
"You flatter me, caballero, in speaking, thus; I do not deserve this kindness on your part."
"Well, as you will have it so, I will be frank with you, Señor; there is, indeed, one thing in which you could be useful to me."
"Well and good—what is it?"
"Oh! Mon Dieu! a very simple affair. Leave these ladies, I beg you, in ignorance of their deliverance; you know that joy, like grief is to be feared when it comes suddenly without any preparation. I am afraid of the revulsion that the announcement of this sudden departure will cause these ladies, as they are so far from expecting it."
"What you ask me is very easy of course; however, I must tell them tomorrow, or this evening."
"Don't worry about that; it's easily managed. Tell them that they must be ready to mount horse tomorrow at sunrise, without telling them of the cause or the destination of the journey. I shall be careful to keep out of their sight till I find an opportunity of presenting myself to them without too much exciting them."