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Updated: May 31, 2025
This melancholy event was destined to have an important influence on the position of Luis Herrera in the family of Count Villabuena, and on his future fortunes. Mingled with the natural grief felt by the count at the untimely death of his children, were the pangs of disappointed pride and ambition.
Count Villabuena was lying on his back, his teeth set, his eyes wide open and fixed, his clenched hands full of earth and grass. Baltasar turned away with a slight shudder. "He is dead," said he to the subaltern of the escort. "To take the body with us would but impede our retreat, already difficult enough. The living must not be endangered for the sake of the dead. Forward, men!"
Whilst the Carlists grouped themselves in the cloisters, talking eagerly together, and waiting the coming of Count Villabuena, their horses and ponies stood saddled and bridled upon the green, held by peasant boys, and in readiness for their owners to mount and ride away at a moment's notice, or on the first signal of alarm.
Years have flown by since that day, and the feelings that united those two persons have long since changed; but a promise made as that one was a promise sealed with blood can never pass away till it has been redeemed. Carmen, I claim its fulfilment." Baltasar paused. "Fiend!" exclaimed the abbess, "what would you of me?" "I have already told you," said Villabuena.
Count Villabuena had accompanied the general upon this last expedition, but not without previously ascertaining that Herrera was well cared for, and that the wound in his arm, which was by no means a severe one, was attended to by a competent surgeon.
If all be true that I have heard of Count Villabuena, and of his affection for his only surviving child, he is capable of devoting his life to the search for her." "Count Villabuena," said Baltasar, "now stands before you. The father of Rita is dead." "Dead!" exclaimed the abbess with a start. "How and when did he die?" "He was shot in a skirmish." "In a skirmish!" repeated Doña Carmen.
A surly, ill-conditioned cur he always was, or we should not be standing here without a word of kindness or consolation to offer him." To the surprise of the guardsmen, Herrera, before the officer had done speaking, walked up to the prisoner in question. "Colonel Villabuena?" said he, slightly touching his cap. "That is my name," replied the prisoner, sullenly.
His gallantry did not go unrewarded, and the opening of the spring campaign found him in command of a squadron, and on the high-road to further promotion. Whilst Herrera was thus gaining fame and honour, his rival, Major Villabuena, had no reason to complain of his services being overlooked.
Major Baltasar de Villabuena, that distant relative of the Count to whom reference has been already made as the intended husband of his daughter, was a soldier of fortune who had entered the army at an early age, and at the outbreak of the Carlist insurrection was captain in a regiment of the line.
In the apartment in which the interview between the Conde de Villabuena and his cousin had taken place, and within a few hours after the scene in Zumalacarregui's quarters, the Count was seated alone, revolving in his mind various schemes for the rescue of Luis Herrera from his imminent peril.
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