The return of Rodrigo, and alone, gave him renewed hopes of escape, which were quickly disappointed, when he found that the robber had desisted from opening the door, and was, besides, joined by his companions. During the dispute of the ruffians, Luis, finding that the door yielded to his pressure, forced it open; and, trusting that they would be too eagerly occupied in their own quarrel to pay attention to him, with tottering steps he bore Clara from the vault. The fresh air revived his strength; he looked with horrified amazement at the scene of destruction around him, lit up, as we have said, by the blazing houses; but this was no time for thinking; so, without further delay, he commenced climbing the ruins on the opposite side to that where the ruffians stood. He had already reached the summit of the mound, and was able to look on every side, to decide in which direction he should attempt to escape, when the robbers recovered from their surprise. "What ho! a spy on our secrets!" exclaimed Rodrigo, climbing after him. "Know that no one passes through this city without paying tribute to us, so deliver up the burden you carry, fair sir." On hearing these alarming demands, Luis, removing Clara to his left side, and supporting her with his arm, drew his sword, prepared to defend her to the last. As he stood thus on the summit of the pile of ruins, a few shattered walls of the neighbouring church still remaining at a little distance, the red glare of the burning houses casting a bright reflection on one side of his figure, he offered a fine subject for the painter. As Rodrigo approached him, now that every feature of his countenance was so clearly visible, he recognised in him the Count San Vincente's enemy, whom he had been hired to murder, and the fidalgo who had slain his brother in the forest, and deprived him of his booty. "Ah! senhor, we at length meet again, where there are none to interfere and save you," he exclaimed, attempting to reach the spot where Luis stood; but the latter kept him at bay with his sword, and the ruffian having no other arms than his knife, was afraid of closing with him till his companions came to his assistance. Luis saw that to speak to them would be useless, and that he must depend entirely upon his own courage and firmness, and had he had but one assailant to contend with, he might have been successful in defending himself, and the being dearer to him than life; but while Rodrigo was attacking him in front, the other two robbers, climbing up the ruins, suddenly seized him from behind, and the dagger of the former had almost reached his bosom, when the ruffian's arm was arrested by a person who had sprung up to the spot without being perceived by any of the party. "What, ye villains! were ye about to murder my friend, Don Luis, while he was protecting a lady, too?" exclaimed a loud voice; and Rodrigo, turning fiercely on the new comer, beheld Fre Lopez.