"How should I?" answered Herrera.
"I will tell it you. It is Baltasar de Villabuena."
Herrera uttered an exclamation of surprise. "Impossible!" said he.
"Certain; I have seen him too often to mistake him."
Herrera made no reply. His hasty toilet finished, he bade Paco remain where he was, and descended to the street. He approached the group of guardsmen already mentioned.
"Your next move, gentlemen?" said he, after the usual salutation.
"To Pampeluna with the prisoners," was the reply. "A reconnoissance en force has gone out, but it may go far, I expect, before meeting with a Carlist. They are completely broken, and at this moment I doubt if there is one within a day's march."
"Yes," said another officer, "they are far enough off, if still running. Caremba! what legs the fellows have! We caught a few, though, yesterday afternoon, in spite of their powdering along. Old acquaintances, too, some of them," he added.
"Indeed!" said Herrera.
"Yes; fellows who have served and marched side by side with us. Look there, for instance; do you see that sullen, black-looking dog squinting at us with such a friendly expression?"