"In what way?"
"Do not trouble yourself about anything, I repeat, but leave me to act."
The girl bowed submissively, and, in spite of the curiosity that devoured her, retired without any further questioning into the jacal of branches prepared for her. Don Martial, instead of sleeping, sat down on the ground, folded arms on his chest, leaned against a tree, and remained thus motionless till daybreak, plunged in deep and melancholy thought. At sunrise the Tigrero shook off the effects of his night watch and aroused his comrades. Ten minutes after the little party was en route.
"Oh, oh!" the hacendero said, "You are very early this morning."
"Did you not notice that we did not even breakfast before starting, as we usually do?"
"Of course I did."
"Do you know the reason? Because we shall breakfast at Guetzalli, where we shall arrive in two hours at the latest."
"Ah, caramba!" the hacendero exclaimed, "you delight me with that news."
"I thought I should."
Doña Anita, on hearing him speak thus, had looked sorrowfully at Don Martial; but seeing his face so calm, his smile so frank, she felt suddenly reassured, and suspected that his silence of the previous night intended some pleasant surprise for her.