"Madre," said Inez to her mother, "Don Pedro informs me that his sister Rosita will take the veil at the convent of the Purísima Concepción on the same day as my beloved Maria."
"They are, indeed, of the same age," the Señora replied.
Leon started, and could not repress an exclamation.
"What is the matter, Caballero?" the general asked.
"Nothing, general; merely a spark from my cigarette that fell in my poncho," Leon replied, with visible embarrassment.
"The storm is lulling," Diego said, at length emerging from his silence; "and I believe that we can set out again."
"Can you think of such a thing, my guests? Certainly not; the roads are too bad for me to let you depart. Besides, your room is prepared, and your horses are resting in the corral."
Diego was about to refuse, but Leon did not allow him the time.
"Since you wish it, general, we will pass the night beneath your roof."
Diego was obliged to accept. Moreover, in spite of what he stated, the storm, instead of lulling, redoubled its intensity; but it could be seen that the Vaquero obeyed against his will the necessity in which he found himself of remaining, and that he experienced an invincible repugnance in submitting to it.