"Hum; I did not say this on behalf of the chief, whose friendship for you I am well acquainted with."
"Who then?"
"For Don Martial, who has accompanied me, and has important matters to communicate to you."
"Oh, oh, that changes the question," said the hunter, at once substituting Spanish for the French he had hitherto employed. "Are you there, my dear Don Martial?"
"Yes, señor," the Tigrero answered, emerging from the gloom in which he had remained up to this moment, "and very happy to see you."
"Who else have you brought with you, Don Antonio?"
"Me, my friend," said a third person, as he let the folds of his cloak fall. "My brother thought that it would be better to have a companion, in the event of an alarm."
"Your brother was right, my dear Edward, and I thank him for the good idea, which procures me the pleasure of shaking your hand a few moments sooner. And now, señores, if you are agreeable, we will sit down and talk, for, if I am not mistaken, we have certain things to tell each other which are most important for us."
"That is true!" Antonio Rallier answered, as he sat down, in which he was immediately imitated by the rest.
"If you like," Valentine continued, "we will proceed in regular rotation; that is, I fancy, the way to finish more quickly, for you know that moments are precious."