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The sinking sun and rapidly lengthening shadows proclaimed the approach of evening, and Rita de Villabuena, still seated at her window, watched for her father's arrival, when the trot of a horse, which stopped at the door of the house, caused her to start from her seat, and hurry to the balcony.
More than once, moved by Rita's tears and entreaties, she was tempted to set her at liberty, but was deterred by fear of Baltasar. The action of Mendigorria was fought news came to the convent that Colonel Villabuena had been killed.
With half a doubt, I would have bitten my tongue from my mouth before an accusation should have passed it against the man in whose favour indeed I have no cause to be prejudiced. Count Villabuena, the shot was fired with intent. For that I pledge my honour and salvation." There was a pause. "But my daughter," said the Count; "you forget her, Luis. She must be rescued.
"Have you heard that the prisoners are to be shot to-morrow?" Paco started. "And Don Luis with them?" The Count nodded affirmatively. "It will be the death of Doña Rita," exclaimed Paco with blunt passion. "Speak to the general you can do it. He will not refuse Señor Herrera's life, if you ask it." "You are mistaken," said Villabuena; "in that quarter there is no hope.
The officer addressed left the room to fulfil the commands he had received; and Zumalacarregui, as if desirous to get rid of a painful subject, called Count Villabuena and some of his officers around him, and began discussing with them a proposed plan of operations against the division of one of the generals whom Rodil had left to follow up the Carlist chief during his own absence in Biscay.
The stranger entered the house, and was ushered into a large apartment on the first floor. He had waited there but a few minutes, when the door of an adjoining chamber opened, and Count Villabuena, wrapped in a morning-gown, and seemingly just out of bed, made his appearance. "Don Baltasar!" exclaimed the Count, in a tone of some surprise, on beholding his early visitor.
"Although," resumed Villabuena, "his Majesty Charles the Fifth is at this moment absent from Spain, his faithful subjects will not allow that absence to be prejudicial to him. They intend to vindicate his just rights, and to overturn the contemptible faction which, headed by an intriguing woman, supports the unfounded claims of a sickly infant.
One of the first who hastened to pay court to the young and beautiful heiress, was, as might be expected, Colonel Baltasar de Villabuena. But his reception was in the highest degree discouraging, and he was able to assure himself, that if any variation had taken place in Rita's sentiments, it was by no means in his favour.
The house occupied by Count Villabuena was nearly in the centre of one of the irregular lines of detached buildings that formed the village. About eighty yards further off, on the opposite side of the road, from which they receded, and were partially screened by some barns and a plantation of fruit-trees, there stood two houses united under one roof.
He is one of my prisoners of yesterday. He commanded a body of cavalry which charged us." "Likely, likely," said Paco. "Do you know his name?" "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.
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