But the guests, whose curiosity had been excited to the highest point, and who could not satiate themselves by looking at these men, whom they considered as almost their saviours, no longer entered into the amusements with the same spirit as before. The painter, wearied with the secondary part which he was playing in the midst of people whose aspirations it was impossible for him to understand, and whose enthusiasm he could not share, had left the corner of the room where he had so long remained alone, admiring in silence the scene of excitement which passed before him; and he sought to open up a passage through the crowd, and reach the square incognito--hoping easily to escape during the tumult caused by the arrival of the Montoneros--when he felt himself touched lightly on the shoulder. He turned round, and could with difficulty repress an exclamation of ill humour on recognising his two companions of the Alameda--those who had assisted him to an introduction to the cabildo--in a word, the Spanish captain and the Count de Mendoza. Both were disguised, and had put on a costume similar to that which the young Frenchman wore. "Where are you going to this way?" asked the count, with a sneer. We must render this justice to the painter--that if he had not completely forgotten the two men whose prisoner on parole he was, at least, in his inmost heart he hoped to escape their vigilance, reckoning on chance for the opportunity. "I?" asked he, surprised unawares. "Certainly, you," said the count. "Mon Dieu," said he, with the most indifferent air that he could affect, "it is suffocating in these rooms, and I was going out on the square, in quest of a little breathable air." "Is that all?" "Certainly." "Do not distress yourself, then; as we want a little air, like yourself, we will accompany you," pursued the count. "Be it so; I am quite agreeable," said he. They took some steps towards the door. But the young man, suddenly altering his mind, stopped, and turning briskly towards his two bodyguards, who followed him step for step-- "Parbleu!" said he to them, resolutely, "I have changed my mind, and since the opportunity for an explanation between us presents itself, I will profit by it." "What is that he says?" asked the count, haughtily. "Let the caballero speak," said the captain; "I am certain that he has something interesting to say." "Yes, Señor, very interesting indeed, for me!" "Ah, ah!" murmured the count; "Let us hear--it must be curious." "You think so?" "I am convinced of it." "But, pardon," pursued the count; "are you not, like us, my dear sir, of opinion that it is not well to put the public in the confidence of things which concern us alone?" "I can understand that you have an interest in seeking mystery; such is not my view. I wish, on the contrary, that the greatest publicity should be given to this conversation." "That is a great pity." "Why so?"