But the madame could do no more than repeat all she knew, which was little enough, and that little thoroughly mixed in her mind.
All that Victoriano and Doña Josefa could ascertain, with some clearness, was that Clarence was going, and had come back, thinking that Mercedes had called him, but that on being told that Mercedes had called Tano to accompany her to Mrs. Mechlin's, he had gone away.
“I must overtake Clarence. There is some misunderstanding here, that is plain,” said Victoriano, going to the back piazza to call a servant.
This time Chapo came a little quicker, not knowing whether he would be to blame, because the Americano went off with his horses before he had time to put them in the stable.
“Bring me my bay horse, saddled, in two minutes, do you hear? Two minutes—not two hours—go quick.”
“We cannot find Mercita. She is not in the house,” said Doña Josefa to her son, much alarmed.
“She must be, mother. Call the other girls. Look again for her. I must run after Clarence, and learn why he is going, instead of passing the night here.”
Fifteen minutes after Clarence had left, Victoriano was galloping behind him, wondering why he could not see him anywhere on the road.
Madame Halier and Doña Josefa continued looking for Mercedes most anxiously, but in vain. George now came up, and joined in the search for the missing girl.
As Victoriano crossed the brook and ascended the hill beyond it, Don Mariano and Gabriel came up into the court-yard. They immediately hurried into the house, Don Mariano knowing that Mercedes would be anxious for him to talk with Clarence.