What will his feelings be when, he learns it!" Late in the afternoon the count arrived.

One of the servants who had been on the lookout informed the countess of his approach.
"I will go myself to meet him," she said.

"Do you stay here, senor, where you can hear." The count rode up at full speed, and as the door opened ran hastily in.
"What has happened, Nina ?" he exclaimed anxiously.

"I have had a great fright.

We have been following a small party of the enemy who escaped us from Estrella, and just now a woman returning from work in the fields told us she had seen five strange soldiers ride up here and enter." "They are here," the countess answered complacently.