"This army which is coming against us is much stronger than the detachment Beresford took our city with a year ago."
"A surprise; now we are ready; 'el hombre prevenido nunca fue vencido.'"[5]
"Evaña says we are not 'prevenido,' our militia cannot face the English in the field, and I agree with him. I have not seen much of the English, but their soldiers are better than our militia. Gordon has told me much about their drill and discipline."
"Do you know I like that English friend of yours," said Doña Dalmacia. "He is very simple, but he is not wanting in intelligence."
"And he is a soldier, therefore his opinion is of more value than that of either Evaña or myself; he says that one English division would be sufficient to rout all the infantry now in the city, in the open field."
"He did not tell me so the other day when he was at my house. He told me that he had been to pay you a visit, and that your negroes were very good soldiers."
"My negroes are not citizen soldiers, Doña Dalmacia."
"But you will not tell me that they are equal to Isidro's company."
To this Marcelino merely bowed in answer, and hastened to turn the conversation.
"But about Evaña, Señora," said he; "I am sorry that you should think so ill of him as to say that he merits the calabozo."