"Very good," he said; "Carnero, you are one of my oldest servants, and to you I entrust the duty of bringing back my niece."
"There will be probably plenty of blows to receive, and very little profit to derive from such an expedition."
"I believed that you were devoted to me," the general remarked bitterly.
"Your excellency is not mistaken; I am truly devoted to you, but I have also a fondness for my skin."
"I will give you twenty-five ounces for every slit it receives; is that enough?"
"Come, I see that your excellency wishes me to be cut into mincemeat!" the capataz exclaimed joyously.
"I should think so, excellency; at that price a man would be a fool to refuse."
"We have at least ten or a dozen in the corral."
"That is true; I did not think of that," the general exclaimed, striking his forehead; "have seven lassoed at once."
"Bring her to this house, for she shall not set foot in the convent again."
"Very good; when shall I start, general?"
"In twenty minutes I shall have left the house."
But the general's impatience was so great that he accompanied his capataz to the corral, watched all the preparations for the departure, and did not return to his apartments till he was certain that Carnero had started in pursuit of the fugitives, with the peons he had selected.
In the meanwhile the carriage dashed along; it passed at full gallop through the San Lázaro gate, then turned suddenly to the right, and entered a somewhat narrow street. At about the middle of this street it stopped before a house of rather modest appearance, the gate of which at once opened, and a man came out holding the bridles of two prairie mustangs completely harnessed, and with a rifle at each saddle-bow. The Frenchman got out, and invited his companion to follow his example.
"Resume your usual dress," he said, as he led him inside the house.
The Tigrero obeyed with an eager start of joy. While he doffed his gown, his companion mounted, after saying to the young ladies--
"Whatever happens, not a word--not a cry; keep the shutters up; we will gallop at the door, and remember your lives are in peril."
Martial at this moment came out of the house attired as a caballero.
"To horse, and let us be off," said Mr. Rallier.