"I only gave the good father my advice upon two points," he said; "the first was the admitting to terms of surrender of a body of French troops with whom he was engaged in battle when I arrived; the second was upon the important question of broaching or not broaching a hogshead of particularly good wine." "If you advised that the hogshead should be broached," the priest said, smiling, "I can warrant that my good brother Ignacio followed your advice, and can well understand the respect in which he seems to hold your judgment.

But do not let us stand talking here.
"Your men will find a stable behind the house where they can stand the horses.

Alas! it is uninhabited at present, for my mule, the gentlest and best in the province, was requisitioned--which is another word for stolen--by the French as they passed through.

My faithful beast! I miss her every hour of the day, and I doubt not that she misses me still more sorely.

Tell me, senor, my brother Ignacio writes me that he has captured many animals from the French--was Margaretta among them?
She was a large mule, and in good condition; indeed, there was some flesh on her bones.