"Did he say anything about the Arenal?"
"No, everything was going on there as usual."
"All the better."
"He merely mentioned a wounded man."
"Ah, ah, well."
"Good gracious, I do not remember exactly what he said."
"Stay uncle, I remember, these were the exact words, señorita, when you see your uncle, be kind enough to inform him that the wounded man whom he placed in the vault in López' charge, took advantage of the absence of the latter to escape, and that in spite of all our researches, we could not find him again."
"Maldición!" don Jaime exclaimed furiously, "Why did that ass of a Dominique not let him die like a wild beast: I suspected it would end thus."
But noticing the surprise depicted on the face of the two ladies on hearing these strange words, he broke off, and feigning the most perfect indifference, remarked, "Is that all?"
"Yes uncle; but he recommended me carefully not to forget to warn you."