"_Pues senor_! There was to be a marriage--without Don Eusebio's consent. It was in the act of being solemnised. _Jesu Cristo_! what a termination! There lies the bridegroom. Where is the bride? Where her sister Mercedes? Ah, senor! you should see Mercedes--_una cosa muy linda_--the fairest thing in all the city of Puebla!" "Excepting Dolores." The words went forth with a purely mechanical effort. I was in no mood for playing champion to charms never to be enjoyed by me. "The robbery of the _diligencia_ was a ruse, then?" "_Si, senor. Una engana_. A little stratagem of Don Francisco and his friends." "I thort thar was somethin' queery beout it," remarked the stage-driver. "But what meant the ransom--the ten thousand dollars?" I asked. "Ay Dios, senor capitan, that was part of the plot. Don Eusebio is _muy rico_--very rich indeed. For all that he is perhaps a little parsimonious. The young people knew that they would need money to commence housekeeping; and as it might be a long time, before the worthy parent would relent and grant them forgiveness, they thought it might be as well to _borrow_ it from him in that way. _Santissima_! it has been a mistake--all, all! Oh, senores! _you_ will not betray me? If it becomes known that I was a willing actor in this sad affair, I would not only lose the lucrative situation I hold in Don Eusebio's family, but perhaps also my gown. _Dios de mi alma_!" "My good padre," I answered somewhat unmannerly, "we have no time to trouble ourselves about your future. We wish you to give some further explanation of the present. The marriage ceremony you speak of was interrupted. We know that. But why, and by whom?" "Robbers, senor--real robbers! _Salteadores del camino grande_!" This was an answer to both my questions. The monk on perceiving it, offered no further explanation. "Their sole motive was plunder, I suppose?" "Ah, senor, I wish I could think so!" "You believe they had some other object?" "Alas! yes. Look there, caballero!" The priest pointed to the dead body of the young man, whom he had represented as the son of the _Juez de Letras_. He was lying with face upwards. I could see upon his breast the sparkle of gold--the guard-chain of a watch--and inside the vest a shape showing that the watch was itself there! "This is strange," I said. "Are you sure they were regular robbers who did this?" "Sure--sure!" replied the padre, with a melancholy shake of the head. "Too sure, caballero. 'Tis true they wore masks, and I could not see their faces. But I heard a name that told me all. I heard it as they passed out, carrying the _muchachas_ along with them." "What name?" I asked, with a painful presentiment. "Ah, senor capitan; one too well known upon these roads." "_Carrasco_?" I half shouted, without waiting for the padre to pronounce it.