"But, general, my presence may perhaps be inopportune—I am only a stranger, and—"
"Sir! the man who devoted himself to save my children cannot be regarded as a stranger either by them or me."
The captain bowed.
"Let us start," Don Juan continued. "You are on foot, so I will send my horse home."
"Pray do not do so, general, for my horse is waiting a few yards off."
Leon whistled in a peculiar manner, and almost immediately the general saw a horseman, leading another horse by the bridle, turn out of the Calle San Agostino. It was our old acquaintance, Wilhelm.
"Here it is," said Leon.
Wilhelm had come up, and after saluting the general, said to the smuggler, in a low voice:
"Captain, here is a letter which has arrived for you, and which Master Crevel bade me to give you, adding that it was very pressing."
"Very good," said Leon, taking it and putting it in his pocket, without even looking at the handwriting. And he leapt on his horse.