It was not a ladies' festival, therefore Catalina was not there. It was, indeed, rather an extemporised affair--a sort of jubilee to wind up the performances of the day. The officers and priests were in high spirits, and had put their heads together in getting up the improvised banquet. The town had become silent, and the mansion of Don Ambrosio showed not a sign of life. The portero still lingered by the great gate, waiting his master's return; but he sat inside upon the banqueta of the zaguan, and seemed to be asleep. He was watched by those who wished him to sleep on. The large door of the _caballeriza_ was open. Within the framework of the posts and lintels the form of a man could be distinguished. It was the groom Andres. There was no light in the stable. Had there been so, four horses might have been seen standing in their stalls, saddled and bridled. A still stranger circumstance might have been observed--around the hoofs of each horse were wrapped pieces of coarse woollen cloth, that were drawn up and fastened around the ankles! There was some design in this. The door of the caballeriza was not visible from the zaguan; but at intervals the figure within the stable came forth, and, skulking along, peeped around the angle of the wall. The portero was evidently the object of his scrutiny. Having listened a while, the figure again returned to its place in the dark doorway, and stood as before. Up to a certain time a tiny ray of light could be detected stealing through the curtains of a chamber-door--the chamber of the senorita. All at once the light silently disappeared; but a few moments after, the door opened noiselessly. A female figure glided softly forth, and turned along under the shadow of the wall, in the direction of the caballeriza. On reaching the open doorway she stopped, and called in a low voice-- "Andres!" "_Aqui, Senorita_!" answered the groom, stepping a little more into the light. "All saddled?" "Si, Senorita." "You have muffled their hoofs?" "Every one, Senorita." "Oh! what shall we do with him," continued the lady in a tone of distress, and pointing toward the zaguan. "We shall not be able to pass out before papa returns, and then it may be too late. _Santisima_!" "Senorita, why not serve the portero as I have done the girl? I'm strong enough for that." "Oh, Vicenza! how have you secured her?" "In the garden-house,--tied, gagged, and locked up. I warrant she'll not turn up till somebody finds her. No fear of her, Senorita. I'll do the same for the portero, if you but say the word."