After this there is but one thing open to me, and that is to return to Madrid at once.

When I relate the circumstances to the duke, he will see that, had I endeavoured to carry out the rest of his instructions, the chance of my report ever coming to hand would have been slight indeed, and it is all important that he should get it.
"The question is, shall we mount and ride at once, or shall I go and take leave of the governor ?" "Of course, your honour, you can do as you like, but I should say that the sooner we are out of this, the better.

The longer we stay here, the more time he will have to take care we don't get back alive.
"There was another thing I did not tell you, sir.

As we went to the barracks, we passed some cavalry men talking.

They were arguing that the enemy must be marching this way, for at two o'clock last night ten troopers were suddenly called up and sent off, the gates being opened for them by order of the governor." "Just what I expected, Mike.