"Why did you come with the lady?" replied the esquilador. "Had you stopped at Segura, no one would have meddled with you."
"I came because I was ordered. Where is Doña Rita?"
The gipsy hesitated, and then answered surlily. "I do not know."
Paco gave the rope a twitch which brought the esquilador's tongue out of his mouth.
"Liar!" he exclaimed; "I heard you speaking to her just now. What does she here?"
"A prisoner," muttered the half-strangled gipsy.
"Whose?"
"Colonel Villabuena's."
"And the Señor Conde. Where is he?"
"Dead."