"What is the matter?" the Colonel asked the aide-de-camp.
"The General will tell you himself," the officer answered, "for he is impatiently expecting you, and has already asked several times for you."
"Oh, then, there is something new."
"I believe so."
The Colonel pushed on ahead, and in a few minutes found himself before the house occupied by the General. The house was full of noise and light; but so soon as the General perceived the young man, he left the officers with whom he was talking, and walked quickly toward him.
"Here you are at last," he said; "I was impatiently expecting you."
"What is the matter then?" the Colonel asked, astounded at this reception, which he was far from expecting, for he had left the camp so quiet, and found it on his return so noisy.
"You shall know, Señores," the General added addressing the officers in the room: "be kind enough not to go away. I shall be with you in an instant. Follow me, Colonel."
Don Juan bowed, and passed into an adjoining room, the door of which the General shut after him. Hardly were they alone, ere the General took the young man affectionately by one of his coat buttons, and fixed on him a glance that seemed trying to read the depths of his heart.
"Since your departure," he said, "we have had a visit from a friend of yours."