A cook was serving him with delicate dishes and another servant filled his glass with red wine.

His dark face darkened still further, as he looked at Ned, but he saluted Almonte courteously.
It was evident to Ned that through family or merit, probably both, Almonte stood very high in the Mexican service.
"I have the honor to report to you, General Cos," said Almonte, "that we have retaken the young Texan who escaped through the bars of his prison at the capital.

We found him in the mountains overcome by exhaustion." General Cos' lips opened in a slow, cold smile,--an evil smile that struck a chill to Ned's heart.

Here was a man far different from the gallant and gay young Almonte.

That cruel strain which he believed was in the depths of the Spanish character, dormant though it might usually be, was patent now in General Cos.