He was not a man to make swift decisions, and nowhere could he reflect better than in the saddle during a long ride.

He would inform him of his determination by the first messenger despatched from Brussels to the Emperor.

Even now he could assure him that this generous offer seemed very tempting, since solitude always had far more charm for him than the noisy bustle of the court.
Quijada willingly granted the requested delay, and, before bidding him farewell, Wolf availed himself of the opportunity to deliver into his hands the papers collected by his adopted father, which he had on his person.

They contained the proof that he was descended from the legal marriage of a knight and a baroness; and Don Luis willingly undertook to have them confirmed by the Emperor, and his patent renewed in a way which, if he accepted his proposal, might also be useful to him in Spain.
So Wolf took leave of the major-domo with the conviction that he possessed a true friend in this distinguished man.

If the regent did not arbitrarily detain him, he would show himself in Villagarcia to be worthy of his confidence.
On the stairs he met the Emperor's confessor, Don Pedro de Soto.