"You have come with a large escort," don Antonio continued.
"Caray! Do you fancy, my dear sir, that I have any wish to fall into the hands of Miramón's scouts? My account would be soon settled if they caught me. But I fancy that in spite of all the pleasure we feel at meeting, we had better attend to business without delay. What is your opinion?"
"I wish for nothing better."
"The general thanks you for the last information you sent him—it was scrupulously exact; hence he has sworn to reward you as you deserve, so soon as the occasion offers."
Don Antonio made a gesture of disgust.
"Have you the paper?" he asked, with some degree of eagerness.
"Of course," the colonel answered.
"Drawn up as I requested?"
"Everything is in it, señor, so set your mind at rest," the colonel continued, with a coarse laugh.
"Where could honesty be found at the present day, except among people of our stamp? What you stipulated is accepted. The whole is signed, 'Ortega, General-in-Chief of the Federal Army,' and countersigned, 'Juárez, President of the Republic.' Are you satisfied?"