Whilst pronouncing these words, the general rose from his seat, seized the hand of the young man and pressed it warmly, his eyes filled with tears.
At this unexpected offer the hunter stood astonished, breathless, and not knowing what to reply.
His mother suddenly threw back her rebozo, and displaying her countenance glowing and transfigured, so to speak, with intense joy, stepped between the two men, placed her hand upon the shoulder of the general, looked at him earnestly, and in a voice rendered tremulous by emotion, exclaimed—
"At length, Don Ramón de Garillas, you recall that son whom twenty years ago you so cruelly abandoned!"
"Woman! what do you mean?" the general asked, in a broken voice.
"I mean, Don Ramón," she replied, with an air of supreme majesty, "that I am Doña Jesuita, your wife, and that Loyal Heart is your son Rafaël, whom you cursed."
"Oh!" the general cried, falling on his knees, and with his face bathed in tears, "pardon, pardon, my son!"
"My father!" Loyal Heart cried, springing towards him, and endeavouring to raise him up; "what are you doing?"
"My son," said the old man, almost wild with grief and joy, "I will not quit this posture till I have obtained your pardon."
"Arise, arise, Don Ramón!" said Doña Jesuita, in an affectionate tone; "it is long since the hearts of the mother and the son have felt anything for you but love and respect."