The conversation then turned upon money matters, and Antonia received the key of his study, and full directions as to the gold and papers secreted there.
Then Isabel was awakened, and the rifle brought down; and Paola saddled the fleetest horse in the stable, and after one solemn five minutes with his daughter, Robert Worth rode away into the midnight darkness, and into a chaos of public events of which no man living could forecast the outcome.
Rode away from wife and children and home; leaving behind him the love and labor of his lifetime-- "The thousand sweet, still joys of such As hand in hand face earthly life." For what?
For justice, for freedom of thought and action, for the rights of his manhood, for the brotherhood of race and religion and country.
Antonia and Isabel stood hand in hand at the same lattice from which the Senora had watched her son away, and in a dim, uncertain manner these thoughts connected themselves in each mind with the same mournful inquiry--Is it worth while?
As the beat of the horse's hoofs died away, they turned.

The night was cold but clear, and the sky appeared so high that their eyes throbbed as they gazed upward at the grand arch, sprinkled with suns and worlds.
Suddenly into the tranquil spaces there was flung a sound of joy and revelry; and the girls stepped to a lattice at the end of the corridor and looked out.
The residencia of Don Salvo Valasco was clearly visible from this site.
They saw that it was illuminated throughout.

Lovely women, shining with jewels, and soldiers in scarlet and gold, were chatting through the graceful movements of the danza, or executing the more brilliant Jota Aragonesa.

The misty beauty of white lace mantillas, the glitter and color of fans and festival dresses, made a moving picture of great beauty.
And as they watched it there was a cessation of the dance, followed by the rapid sweep of a powerful hand over the strings of a guitar.

Then a group of officers stepped together, and a great wave of melodious song, solemn and triumphant, thrilled the night.