The ranchero came in, "Heaven be praised!" he exclaimed on noticing don Jaime, "For allowing me to meet you here."
"What has happened?" the adventurer quietly asked.
"A great misfortune," he answered, "the hacienda del Arenal has been captured by Cuéllar's band."
"¡Demonios!" the adventurer shouted, turning pale with passion, "When did this happen?"
"Three days ago."
The adventurer hurriedly dragged him into the interior of the house.
"Are you hungry? Are you thirsty?" he asked him.
"For three days I have neither eaten nor drank, as I was so anxious to get here."
"Rest, yourself and eat, and then you will tell me what has happened."
The two ladies hastened to place before the ranchero, bread, meat and pulque. While Loïck was taking the nourishment, of which he had such pressing need, don Jaime was walking in agitation up and down the room. At a sign from him the ladies had discreetly retired, leaving him alone with the ranchero.