I still remained mute. What need was there of speech? The alcaide and the clerk consulted together; then the former made a sign to one of the turnkeys, who stood by me. The man nodded and withdrew. This motion did not escape Don José, who forthwith rose up, and said very briskly— ‘Señor Monté, beware you do not somewhat transcend your commission. I have not lost my interest at the court of Castile. That youth may be a pirate, but you have in noways proved it. Besides he hath borne himself both modestly and manfully. I am of a house which hath ever protected the weak against the strong; and I swear, by your Lady of the Hill, that if the youth come to wrong, you and your underlings shall answer and abide the consequence!’ At this, there was a loud and threatening murmur among the spectators; and the turnkeys, thinking that Don José might attempt a rescue single-handed, gripped me tightly. As for the alcaide, his grim and disfigured features grew white, and worked and grinned with spite, while the little wrinkled man, shaking with rage, whispered tremulously to his superior. In a minute the alcaide burst out. He started off his seat, and with his fists clenched, and the shaggy hairs of his moustache bristling for very passion, he roared out— ‘A pretty thing—a pretty thing I that I am thus crossed and insulted in my own court; that my warnings and reproofs are set at naught, and I am threatened on the very judgment-seat! Caramba! Let those who do so look to it. Who dare come between me and—’ ‘And your prey, kite!’ said Don José, with the old bitter sneer gleaming on his face. The alcaide foamed at the mouth, and bellowed rather than spoke. ‘The pirate—the pirate shall die the death! I say it! Here prevail no traitors’ counsels!’ ‘Whoso says I am a traitor,’ cried Don José, ‘lies in his foul throat, and I will push the words back into his lungs with my sword!’ So saying, he advanced upon the judge. ‘Guards—guards!’ screamed out the clerk. ‘Turn out the guards! Where are the soldiers? Treason! The life of the alcaide is in danger!’ At the same time, the mob in the court, who had hitherto remained passive, burst into loud execrations, and clenched fists and gleaming knives were shaken at Don José. The latter drew himself up with that majestic motion and gesture, which your high-bred Spaniard knows how to assume, and curling his thin lip, and flashing his black eyes upon the roaring crowd, stood, unmoved as a stone statue in the aisle of a minster. Meantime, the alcaide entirely threw off all appearance of a judge’s impartiality.