Recognizing Medina's carefully modulated voice, I lingered to adjust my cravat with an extra touch. When I entered, the Lieutenant was in the midst of a reply to some remark by the aide: "--Therefore, Mr. Robinson and I have considered ourselves at liberty to discuss what we pleased, and as we pleased." Medina met my half bow with a scowl. "May I inquire the purpose of our distinguished guest's presence with us?" I asked. "He brings word from the Governor-General that it is high time we put on muzzles," replied Pike, with one of his rare flashes of anger. "_Por Dios!_" I mocked. "Can it be Don Nimesio Salcedo does not admire our teeth?" "Were I His Excellency," growled Medina, "certain teeth would be gnawing crusts in the _calabozo_." "But as it is, Lieutenant de Gonzales y Medina comes as an aide in the service of His Excellency," suggested Walker. The hint was sufficient to smooth Medina's ruffled front. He fixed his gaze upon Pike, and addressed him with the most formal politeness: "Then you admit, senor, that yourself and Senor Robinson have persistently and deliberately inculcated and disseminated republican principles throughout the period of your presence in New Spain?" "It is true," replied Pike. "We came to Chihuahua at the insistence of His Excellency, yet have been assured that we are not to regard ourselves as prisoners. Why, then, should we not discuss topics of world-wide interest with the same freedom we should enjoy in our own country?" "Lieutenant Pike overlooks the delicacy of his situation." "My compliments to His Excellency," retorted Pike. "My country is yet young and poor. It may as yet lack strength to resent the outrages of Britain and France. But present to His Excellency the assurance of my confidence that the Republic can exact reprisals for injuries to its citizens and officers inflicted by a secondary power." "_Satanas!_" swore the aide. "You dare name the great Kingdom of Spain as not among the first of the powers?" "The sun of Spain is fast setting. Your statesmen sneer at the mistakes and seeming weakness of the United States. I predict that unless Spain elects for freedom, within a century she will be shorn of the last of her glory, while free America shall grow in might beyond the grandest dreams of her citizens!" "It is with the present we have now to deal, senor," sneered Medina. "His Excellency sends you fair warning. Those who have permitted you to indulge in your Jacobinical and atheistic discourse in their company, and in particular those who have themselves indulged in the treasonous discussions, are all noted, and their cases will be attended to in due time." "That, senor, is doubtless one of the prerogatives arrogated to itself by tyranny," said Pike. "As for Senor Robinson and myself, we are citizens of the United States, and not subjects of His Most Catholic Majesty. We propose to continue to express our opinions freely on all subjects."