"You!" he murmured, with a tenderness of expression impossible to render.
"Speak lower," the maiden replied, and she pointed to the sentry, who had stopped, and seemed to be spying her movements. Leon looked for a moment at the man to whom the guard of the camp was temporarily confided.
"Reassure yourself," he said to her; "he is the bravest and most devoted man in my band. Stop here for a moment."
Then walking a few paces, Leon made a signal to the sentry to come to him.
"Wilhelm," he said to him, "stop as sentry till I give you orders myself to call one of your comrades, and look out."
"Yes, captain," the man replied, with a marked German accent; "I understand."
"Very good," Leon replied; "begone."
The sentry retired, and Leon returned to the maiden, whose bosom was hurriedly heaving. The captain knew Wilhelm, and that at the slightest movement which took place in the Soto-Mayor's tent, he should be warned. Hence he was enabled to talk freely with her whom he loved, without fear of being surprised.
"You here so close to me!" Leon went on, seizing one of the maiden's hands. "Oh, Doña Maria, how kind you are!"
"You are suffering," she said, as she bent on the young man a glance in which the signs of a sympathising interest were visible; "you are suffering, and seem to avoid and shun me, and that is why I have resolved on asking you the cause of your sorrow."