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As she spoke these words her eyes moist with tears, yet shining with their own sweet lustre the poor girl approached, and, by a sudden impulse, threw herself upon her father's shoulder to hide her rising blushes. "I knew then that I loved him only," she murmured. "But of whom do you speak?" "Of Tiburcio Arellanos of the Count Fabian de Mediana they are one and the same person."
Neither had the least suspicion that they were here re-united by strange and providential circumstances that twenty years before, they had lain side by side then lulled to sleep by the sound of the ocean, just as now by the whispering murmurs of the forest. For twenty years the murderer of the Countess de Mediana had gone unpunished.
The conscience of Mediana cried to him, that it was in order to forget one day of his life, but at that moment he wished to remain deaf to its voice. The moon shone upon the firearms piled in the centre of the camp, and cast its light upon sixty men inured to peril and fatigue, and who laughed at heat and thirst.
Did you not agree that it should be consummated when we knew that Don Estevan could not return? He is dead; what then do you wish?" "It is true, father; I did fix that period, but " "Well!" "But I did not know that he still lived." "Don Antonio de Mediana?" "No; Don Fabian de Mediana," replied Rosarita, in a low voice. "Don Fabian? who is this Fabian of whom you speak?"
An imperious gesture from Fabian cut short Cuchillo's demand. "Silence!" he said, "do not distract the last thought of a Christian who is about to die." We have said that a poignard planted in the ground no longer cast a shadow. "My lord of Mediana," added Fabian, "I ask you once again, by the name we bear, by your honour, and the salvation of your soul, are you innocent of my mother's murder?"
This was not the only care, however, which then preoccupied Antonio de Mediana; the absence of Cuchillo made him uneasy, and he began to have a suspicion of this man's perfidy. Cuchillo had gained considerably upon the Indians who pursued him; but no sooner did he perceive through the hedge the entrenchment raised by his companions than he slackened his pace.
"Sin pecado concebida!" replied at the same time the two acolytes within. And upon this formula, Gregorio hastened to the door, and opened it. "What on earth can have brought you here at this hour, Don Juan de Dios Canelo?" inquired the alcalde in a tone of surprise, as the old steward of the Countess de Mediana appeared in the doorway, his bald forehead clouded with some profound chagrin.
The day was drawing towards a close, and it was at a late hour when Gayferos uttered a joyful exclamation on seeing three travellers advancing at a gallop. These travellers were no others than the Canadian, Pepe, and Fabian de Mediana. The giant was mounted upon a strong mule, larger and more vigorous than the Mexican horses.
You can judge, then, of the grief which this news has given me news the more incomprehensible, since one neither knows by whom, or for what reason such a crime should be committed. Alas, my children! I lose a powerful protector in the Countess de Mediana; and in me the heart of the old and faithful servant is pierced with anguish, while as a man of business I am equally a sufferer.
"A short time after, his uncle appeared at Elanchovi and claimed his nephew's fortune and titles. All was given up to him, and I, who believed that I had only sold my services to favour an intrigue or an affair of smuggling, found that I had been the accomplice of a murderer. "I upbraided the present Count Mediana before witnesses, and accused him of this crime.
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