Rumour at Nightfall

by Graham Greene

The First Carlist War is coming to an end. The pretender's most loyal fighter, Caveda refuses to submit and continues to defy the new government, pursued by an army led by Colonel Riego.

English journalist, Francis Chase has been in Spain covering the story for the last two years, travelling with Colonel Riego's outfit on the trail of Caveda. After a skirmish with rebels in which Colonel Riego's son is killed, Francis Chase discovers a mail bag which contains a clue that may lead them to Caveda. The bag contains some personal items of Caveda, including letters, gloves and a photograph of a young woman. Chase separates from the outfit, and heads to the town of San Juan alone to try and locate the woman in the photograph.

He returns to the Inn where he previously stayed, to find to his surprise his friend and colleague Michael Crane. Crane has left the London newspaper, and arrived in Spain some months ago. With Crane's help, they track down the woman in the photograph, Eulelia Monti. Chase meets with Eulelia Monti, who he finds is Caveda's mistress, though is not in love with him. Meanwhile, Crane sees a man leave the building who he believes is Caveda and tracks him to a bar in town.

Following the destruction of San Juan's bridge by Caveda's men, Colonel Riego arrives in town, and executes a local barber, a known Caveda informer. Michael Crane becomes infatuated by Eulelia Monti and betrays Chase, by informing her that Chase cannot be trusted.

Chase is concerned for his friends well being, and advises Crane to leave San Juan on horseback, and to deliver a message to his newspaper. On the ride out of town, Crane meets Eulelia Monti who advises him that Caveda is planning an uprising at the funeral of the barber the next morning. Crane announces his love for Eulelia Monti, and they ride back into San Juan and are married in secret. Chase meets with General Diaz and Colonel Riego and advises that his friend, Crane knows where Caveda is located and can identify him.

Chase begins to feel a kinship with the elusive Caveda, and feels guilt over his involvement in the plan to capture him. He is then surprised when Crane returns to the Inn, and advises he has married Eulelia Monti. Furious with his friend, Chase goes in search of Caveda to warn him of the plan to capture him and how his friend, Crane has betrayed them both.