While Bocardo was giving this fearful counsel, his associate stood regarding Don Cornelio with eyes that expressed a villainous pleasure, at the idea of having another victim to satisfy his bloodthirsty instincts. "Confess quickly!" he cried, "and let that end it. I am tired, and shan't be kept waiting." "Senor Arroyo!" replied Lantejas, "I am a captain in the insurgent army, and am sent by General Morelos to tell you--" Don Cornelio paused. He was hesitating as to whether he dare proclaim his real errand. "Your proofs?" demanded Arroyo. "My papers have been taken from me," said Lantejas. "A fig for your papers! Hola! wife!" continued Arroyo, turning to the hag who still stood by the fainting victim, "here's a little work for you, as I am somewhat fatigued. I charge you with making this spy confess who sent him here, and what design he had in coming. Make him speak out whatever way you please." "By and by," answered the virago, "but not yet. This coyote has come round again, and better still, has come to his right senses at last: he is about to confess." "Bring him here, then!" commanded Arroyo. Several men hastened to execute the order, and, detaching the victim from the place where he had been bound, half dragged, half carried him across the floor. Don Cornelio saw that the unfortunate individual was a young man--of less than thirty, of noble aspect, though his features expressed at the moment the terrible agony he was enduring. "Now, _Gachupino_!" exclaimed the woman, "where is your money hid?" "Where is your wife?" cried Arroyo. On hearing this question so pointedly put, the hideous companion of Arroyo directed upon her husband a glance of concentrated rage and jealousy. "I want the woman," muttered Arroyo, "in order that I may draw a good ransom out of her father." The young Spaniard, his spirit tortured to a certain degree of feebleness, in a voice scarce audible, indicated to his persecutors where lay the secret chamber--the door of which, cunningly set in the wall, had escaped even the keen eyes of the robbers. Both Bocardo and Arroyo immediately repaired to the spot. A keg of dollars, with a large quantity of plate, was found in the chamber, but the Senora Marianita had disappeared. On hearing this news, a tremor of joy passed through the lacerated frame of the young Spaniard. Little cared he for his treasure, so long as his beloved wife had escaped from the outrages of the brigands. His emotion caused him to faint anew; and he lay once more senseless at the feet of his tormentors. Don Cornelio now remembered the white phantom he had observed gliding among the trees, and he doubted not that what he had seen was she of whom they were in search.