"We will die for you, general," Colonel Lupo answered, in the name of all.
The general gave a final bow and went out; almost immediately the hoofs of several horses could be heard echoing on the paved street.
"As we have nothing more to do here, caballeros," the colonel said, "we had better separate without further delay; but do not forget the general's parting recommendation."
"Oh, no," the captain said, gleefully rattling the gold, with which his pockets were filled. "Don Sebastian Guerrero is too generous for us not to be faithful to him; besides, he appears to me at the present moment the only man capable of saving our unhappy country from the abyss. We are all too deeply attached to our country and too devoted to its real interests, not to sacrifice ourselves for it, when circumstances demand it."
The conspirators laughingly applauded this speech of the captain's, and after exchanging courteous bows, they withdrew as they had come; that is to say, they left the inn one after the other, not to attract attention. They carefully wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and went off in parties of three and four, with their hands on their weapons, for fear of any unpleasant encounter.
A quarter of an hour later, the room was empty, and the landlord bolted the door for the night.
"Well, señores," he asked the two strangers, who now left the hiding place in which they had been crouching for upwards of two hours, "are you satisfied?"
"We could not be more so," replied the one who had been the sole speaker hitherto.
"Yes, yes," the landlord continued, "three or four more pronunciamientos, and I believe I shall be able to retire on a decent competency."
"That is what I wish you, Ño Lusacho, and, to begin, a thing promised is a thing done; here are your ten ounces."