"Oh, Heavens!" exclaimed Don Lope, at this moment, "Roque—look! who is that cavalier in the distance?"
Roque looked as he was ordered, but could perceive nothing that might call for such an exclamation.
"Señor," said he, surprised, "what causes your alarm?"
"Is not that caballero going towards our mansion?"
"He may—but what is there strange in that?"
"Surely it is the Count Ureña!"
"He looks very much like him."
"Then I am undone! Run, Roque; dispatch! Detain him."
And without further ceremony, by the smart application of his hand to the back of the valet, he gave an additional impetus to the motives for increased exertion, whilst he himself advanced at a brisk pace towards the object that had so unseasonably disturbed his interesting speculations.
Roque, like a good servant, without losing any time in useless parley, obeyed his master's commands by making the best of his way to the person in question, who in reality proved to be the Count. Gomez Arias, feeling certain that his apprehensions were well founded, suddenly seized him by the shoulder, at the same time calling on him to stay.