"Oho, Don Pedro Florez de Serrano!" he exclaimed, "lieutenant of the Florida, in the naval service of the States, on his parole of honour, cousin of the Captain-General of Cuba, nephew of the Corregidor of Ciudad Rodrigo, student of Salamanca, and the devil only knows all what more, so we have caught you, have we? Bueno viva!"
And the young man, as he drank his coffee and lit a cigar, laughed loudly.
How little could he foresee the awful events of the night that were to follow!
CHAPTER XVII.
THE GREAT CRIME OF PEDRO BARRADAS.
In the cool night breeze, that swept through the Alameda de la Canada, Pedro had recovered consciousness, but he had no conception of how he came to be there, nor had he a recollection of anything that had occurred after he darted into the dressing-closet of Ignez. He could remember that an overpowering sleep fell upon him, and that was all.
During the day he was too unwell to visit the house of the Morenos; but he hoped to meet Donna Ignez, with the rest of her family, at the great festival in the Church of La Campagnia, when, doubtless, she would be able to explain all to him.
"You are sure that matters are all right with this girl?" asked Zuares, doubtfully, for he had seen a man lowering what he at first supposed to be his brother's dead body over the balcony.
"Right—of course. Vamos! it is a clear case with her now."
"Clear case of what?"