In return Marcos vouchsafed a brief account of affairs in the valley of the Wolf. He never had much to say and even in these stirring times told of a fine harvest; of that brilliant weather which marked the year of the Napoleonic downfall.
"And Juanita?" inquired Sarrion at length.
"Is at Pampeluna. They cannot get her away from there without my knowing it. She is well ... and happy."
"You have not written to her?"
"No," answered Marcos.
"We must remember," said Sarrion, with a nod of approval, "that we are dealing with the cleverest men in the world, and the greediest----"
"And the hardest pressed," added Marcos.
"But you have not written to her?"
"No."
"Nor heard from her?"