"Devil take these fellows!" said the captain; "They will not let me approach the general." And, followed by a part of his soldiers, who, like himself, had alighted, he walked up the hill where the officers were gathered. The soldiers led several prisoners in their midst; among these prisoners were some women, of whom two appeared, by their costume and manners, to belong to high society. The Montoneros, notwithstanding the indiscreet curiosity which animated them, had not dared, out of respect for their chief, to pass the natural limit traced by the foot of the little hill. Grouped in disorder round some soldiers who were guarding the horses, they gazed anxiously on their officers. The latter were ranged right and left of Zeno Cabral, and had given free passage to Captain Quiroga and to those whom he brought with him. Zeno Cabral had slowly risen, and, his hand supported by the handle of his sabre, his countenance cold and impassive, and his eyebrows knitted, he waited for his subordinate to speak. The captain, having with a gesture ordered those who followed him to stop, took some steps in advance, and, after a military salute, he remained motionless without uttering a word. Amongst all his qualities, the captain did not reckon that of being an orator; his silence had become proverbial in the company. Don Zeno knew that if he did not interrogate the captain, the latter would never make up his mind to speak first. He therefore made an effort, and affecting an indifference which was doubtless very far from his real feeling-- "You have returned, then, Captain Quiroga?" said he. "Yes, General," laconically answered the officer. "Have you fulfilled the mission that I confided to you?" "I believe so, General." "You have surprised the enemies of the country?" "Those or others, General. I seized the people you designated when they debouched from the ravine; whether they are enemies of the country or not I do not know--that does not concern me." "That is right," said don Zeno Cabral, who was evidently dragging out the conversation, and hesitated to attack the point of it really interesting to him. The captain was again silent. Don Zeno resumed, after a short pause, fidgeting his sabre knot with suppressed ill temper. "But, in a word, what have you done?" At this moment one of the prisoners motioned the captain on one side with a sudden gesture, and taking a step in advance-- "Do you not know, Don Zeno Cabral?" she said, in a haughty voice, throwing on her shoulders, with a gesture full of nobility, the rebozo of black lace which veiled her face. The officers stifled a cry of admiration at the sight of the sovereign beauty of this woman. Don Zeno Cabral took a step backward, biting his lips with vexation, while his countenance became covered with a mortal paleness. "Madame," said he, with closed teeth, "you are a prisoner, and must only speak--do not forget that--when you are questioned."