“Bah!” interrupted the Spaniard. “It is a fortress that well besieged may capitulate like any other.”
“It is said that the daughter of Peña is pretty.”
“Beautiful.”
“You know her, then?” said the Senator, regarding his companion with an astonished look. “Perhaps,” he added, “it is to the hacienda of Venado that you make those periodical and mysterious journeys, so much talked about at Arispe?”
“Precisely so.”
“Ah! I understand you,” said the Senator, turning a sly look upon his companion, “it was the beautiful eyes of the daughter that attracted you, the—?”
“You are mistaken. It was the father, who was simply the banker from whom, from time to time, I drew the funds necessary for my expenses at Arispe.”
“Is that also the object of our present journey?”
“Partly,” replied the Spaniard, “but not altogether—there is another object, which I will communicate to you hereafter.”
“Well, señor,” answered the Senator, “you are a mystery to me from head to foot; but I abandon myself blindly to your guidance.”