Thebilletsofresidencebeingdistributedbytheauthorities，eachsoldierwenttoseekhisborrowedhome。Theywerereceivedbytheirhostswithaveryillgraceandassignedthemostatrociouslyuninhabitablepartsofthehouses。Thegirlsofthecitywerenotindeedamongthosewhoweremostdissatisfied，butastrictwatchwaskeptoverthem，anditwasconsiderednotdecenttoshowpleasureatthevisitofsuchrabble。Thefewsoldierswhowerenativesofthedistrictonlyweretreatedlikekings。Theotherswereregardedasinvaders。
Ateightinthemorningalieutenant-colonelofcavalryenteredthehouseofDonaPerfectaPolentinoswithhisbillet。Hewasreceivedbytheservants，byorderofitsmistress，who，beingatthetimeinadeplorablestateofmind，didnotwishtogodownstairstomeetthesoldier，andbythemhewasshowntotheonlyroominthehousewhich，itseemed，wasdisposable，theroomoccupiedbyPepeRey。
“Letthemsettlethemselvesasbesttheycan，“saidDonaPerfecta，withanexpressionofgallandvinegar。“Andiftheyhavenotroomenough，letthemgointothestreet。”
Wasitherintentiontoannoyinthiswayherdetestednephew，orwastherereallynootherunoccupiedroominthehouse?Thiswedonotknow，nordothechroniclesfromwhichthistruehistoryistakensayawordonthisimportantpoint。Whatweknowpositivelyisthat，farfromdispleasingthetwogueststobethusboxeduptogether，itgavethemgreatpleasure，astheyhappenedtobeoldfriends。Theyweregreatlysurprisedanddelightedwhentheymet，andtheywerenevertiredofaskingeachotherquestionsandutteringexclamations，dwellingonthestrangechancethathadbroughtthemtogetherinsuchaplaceandonsuchanoccasion。
“Pinzon——youhere！Why，whatisthis?Ihadnosuspicionthatyouwereinthisneighborhood。”