From the encounter with Juan de Dios, Gabriel discovers that Ines is in the area. Juan de Dios, still believing in his visions, tells him that he saw Ines on a carriage with some other people who were actors or comedians. They were on their way to Salamanca, which is occupied by the French, so this is where Ines is now.
An accident brings in a new character. Gabriel sees a woman driving a carriage and the horse runs out of control and crashes near the edge of a mountain. Gabriel saves the woman who is one of the English women following their men, and he gives away his room for her. The woman is called Athenais Fly, and she says that she followed her brother who was an engineer, but he died. Yet, she decided to stay because she is very keen on the Spanish culture. Athenais and Gabriel talk about love, and he mentions Ines. Athenais has also seen the theatrical company.
When Gabriel is summoned to a meeting with his superiours and Lord Wellington, the plan is that one of the men infiltrate into Salamanca pretending to be a vegetable seller. Gabriel volunteers, but at first he is told that he doesn't have the knowledge to gain intelligence, but when he explains all his military experience, they agree to let him go.
Then Athenais tells him that she wants to go with him, but he refuses. So he decides to part early, but Athenais follows him. Yet, when her cart proves inadequate, Gabriel leaves her behind. When he is close to Salamanca, he meets someone called Baltasar Ciperez, a rich man who has escaped prison thanks to a French man he usually drinks with, Molichard. Ciperez says that nobody can enter Salamanca unless they have a pass. Gabriel expresses his wish to go to Salamanca, and Ciperez gives him his son's pass, and tells him that now he is Baltasarillo Ciperez.
His first setback is when he runs into some French soldiers who want to buy his vegetables. Gabriel says that it is a present, but the men insist, so he feels obliged to sell the vegetables to them. However, they help him enter the city where he claims he needs to pick up old iron. Then some minutes later he is arrested as some officer accuses him of being a spy and takes him to the gendarmerie. There Tourlourou calls Molichard, and Gabriel pretends to be Baltasarillo, and Molichard, Tourlourou and another soldier, Jean-Jena decide that he is no spy and the four of them go to drink at a tavern.
I am really enjoying the book!!!
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