"We shall see."
"In the meanwhile, let us make haste, for Diego is waiting for us at the Rio Claro, and time is slipping away."
The two smugglers rode off in the direction of the spot fixed by Diego for the meeting he had given the captain. Leon was thinking of the scene which he had just witnessed at the convent, and was asking himself what Inez could have to say to her father. Wilhelm was looking around him suspiciously. They rode on thus for about ten minutes, when just as they were turning the corner of the great Almendral street and preparing to leave Valparaíso, a dozen alguaciles barred their passage.
"In the name of the law I arrest you, Señor Delbès!" one of them said, addressing Leon.
"I beg your pardon," the smuggler said, laying his hands on his pistols, and raising his head.
Wilhelm followed his example.
"Shall we drop them?" he asked, eagerly, in a whisper.
"We two could certainly kill eight!" Leon replied; "but I fancy that would do us no good, as we are beset."
In fact, the first two men were joined by other ten, and a large band of serenos speedily surrounded them.
"Surrender!" said the man who had before spoken.