You will let these ladies go." "_Carambo!_ We shall do nothing of the sort," returned the officer, insolently.

"These ladies are our prisoners, and their carriage and all it contains our prize." "I beg your pardon, Senor Capitan, but you are, perhaps not aware that Lord Wellington has given strict orders that private property is to be respected; and no true caballero molests women." "_Hijo de Dios!_ Dare you say that I am no true caballero?
Begone this instant, or--" The Spaniard drew his sword; I drew mine; his men began to look to the priming of their pistols, and had General Anson not chanced to come by just in the nick of time, it might have gone ill with me.

On learning what had happened, he said I had acted very properly and told the Spaniards that if they did not promptly depart he would hand them over to the provost-marshal.
"We shall meet again, I hope, you and I," said the officer, defiantly, as he gathered up his reins.
"So do I, if only that I may have an opportunity of chastising you for your insolence," was my equally defiant answer.
"A thousand thanks, monsieur! You have done me and my daughter a great service," said the elder of the ladies.

"Do me the pleasure to accept this ring as a slight souvenir of our gratitude, and I trust that in happier times we may meet again." I accepted the souvenir without looking at it; reciprocated the wish in my best French, made my best bow, and rode off on my errand.

By the same act I had made one enemy and two friends; therefore, as I thought, the balance was in my favor.