"In that you are mistaken; don Ludovic is her cousin, Count Ludovic de la Saulay, belonging to the highest nobility in France."
"Ah, ah! He is the Frenchman in question?"
"Yes: he has come expressly from France to contract with his cousin this union which has long been arranged between the two families. Count Ludovic is a most agreeable gentleman, rich, kind, amiable, well educated, and obliging: in short, an excellent fellow, in whom I take the most sincere interest, and I wish you to attach yourself to him."
"If he is as you say, all right; before two days we shall be the best friends in the world."
"Thanks, Dominique, I expected no less from you."
"Eh," said the _vaquero_, "look there, Oliver, someone is coming, I fancy: hang it, they are riding fast, they will be on us in ten minutes."
"They are doña Dolores and Count Ludovic."
They rose to go and receive the young people, who, in truth, were coming up at full speed.
"Here we are at last," the young lady said, as she stopped her horse, with the skill of a practised rider.
With one bound the newcomers reached the ground; after bowing to Dominique, the count held out both hands to the adventurer.
"I see you again then, my friend," he said to him; "thanks for remembering me."
"On my word," the young man said gaily, "I almost had the right to do so."
"My Lord Count," the adventurer then said, "permit me first of all to introduce to you M. Dominique, he is more than a brother, he is another self: I shall be pleased if you will transfer to him a small portion of the friendship you deign to testify to me."
"Sir," the count replied, bowing gracefully to the _vaquero_, "I sincerely regret that I express myself so badly in Spanish, for it prevents me from proving to you the lively desire I feel to let you see the sympathy with which you have already inspired me."
"That is of no consequence, sir," the _vaquero_ replied in French "I speak your language fluently enough to thank you for your cordial words, for which I am most grateful."
"Ah, by Jove! Sir, you delight me; this is a charming surprise; pray, accept my hand, and consider me as entirely at your service."
"Most willingly, sir, and thank you; we shall soon know each other better, and then, you will reckon me, I hope, in the number of your friends."