'Come,' said the General to Conyngham, 'let us sit down. I have
news for you. But what a susceptible heart--my dear young friend--
what a susceptible heart! Julia is, I admit, a very pretty girl--la
beaute du diable, eh! But on so short an acquaintance--rather
rapid, rather rapid!'

As he spoke he was searching among some letters which he had
produced from his pocket, and at length found an official envelope
that had already been opened.

'I have here,' he said, 'a letter from Madrid. You have only to
proceed to the capital, and there I hope a post awaits you. Your
duties will at present be of a semi-military character, but later I
hope we can show you some fighting. This pestilential Cabrera is
not yet quelled, and Morella still holds out. Yes, there will be
fighting.'

He closed the letter and looked at Conyngham. 'If that is what you
want,' he added.

'Yes, that is what I want.'

The General nodded and rose, pausing to brush a few grains of dust
from his dapper riding-breeches.

'Come,' he said, 'I have seen a horse which will suit you at the
cavalry quarters in the Calle de Bobadilla. Shall we go and look at
him?'

Conyngham expressed his readiness to do as the General proposed.