A horseman appeared at the corner of the road leading to the ruins. The stranger, paying but little heed to what he saw, continued to advance boldly toward the house. He passed the ruined wall, and on arriving within ten paces of the sentries, dismounted, threw the bridle on his horse's neck, and walked with a firm step toward the sentries, who awaited him silent and motionless. But when he was about two swords' lengths from the party all the lances were suddenly levelled at his breast, a hoarse voice shouted, "Halt!"
"Who are you? What do you want?" asked a horseman.
"I am a _costeño_. I have taken a long journey to see your captain, with whom I wish to speak," the stranger said.
By the pale and flickering rays of the moon the sentry tried in vain to distinguish the stranger's features; but that was impossible, so carefully was he wrapped up in his cloak.
"What is your name?" he asked, in an ill-tempered tone, when he saw that all his efforts were useless.
"What need of that? Your chief does not know me, and my name will tell him nothing."
"Possibly so, but that concerns yourself. Keep your incognito if you think proper; still, you must not be angry with me if I do not let you disturb the captain. He is at this moment supping with his officers, and certainly would not put himself out in the middle of the night to speak with a stranger."
The man could not conceal a sharp movement of annoyance.
"Possibly so, I will say in my turn," he remarked an instant later. "Listen. You are an old soldier, I think?"
"I am one still," the trooper said, drawing himself up proudly.
"Although you speak Spanish magnificently, I believe I can recognise the Frenchman in you."
The stranger chuckled inwardly. He had caught his man: he had found out his weak point.
"I am alone," he went on. "You have I know not how many comrades. Allow me to speak with your captain. What do you fear?"
"Nothing; but my orders are strict--I dare not break through them."
"We are in the heart of the desert, more than a hundred leagues from every civilised abode," the stranger said, pressingly. "You can understand that very powerful reasons were requisite to make me brave the numberless dangers of the long journey I have made to speak for a few moments with the Count de Lhorailles. Would you shipwreck me in sight of port, when it only requires a little kindness on your part for me to obtain what I want?"