"Pish!" answered Evaña; "did you not do the same for that English friend of yours, Gordon?" "The circumstances were quite different. I could not have done less for him, and I have my reward in a valued friendship which will last our two lives. But Gordon, how is it he has never been to see me?" "He was sent outside after Whitelock's capitulation. The Cabildo only gave up such of Beresford's prisoners as happened to be in the city at the time of the assault; they have kept your friend Gordon for you a little longer. He went to the Pajonales, so I should not wonder if he has come back with Don Fausto." "Poor fellow! But I should have been very sorry if he had gone without my seeing him again." "I don't know whether I am doing right in letting you talk so much, but you do look very much better to-day, and your voice is quite clear again. That will be good news for Doña Constancia and Dolores; I shall go and see them this afternoon." "Who is this Don Alfonso? He has been to me the best physician and the most grumpy host that ever a man had." "If I tell you his surname you will know at once who he is, then we need talk no more of him, and I will read to you. His name is Miranda." "Miranda!" said Marcelino meditatively; "Miranda! Is he any relation to the General, Don Francisco?" "His brother." "And what has he done that my father should think him his enemy?" "Have you never heard? It happened before I went to Europe!" "What happened?" "I see you have never heard of him before. Strange! Then I suppose I must tell you. You have heard of the expeditions of Miranda for the liberation of Venezuela?" "Oh yes; you and I have often spoken of them." "Unluckily for Don Alfonso, who was in England at the time of his second attempt in 1798, he just then determined to return to Venezuela. He had lost his wife, who was an Englishwoman. I suppose that made him leave England. He had never mixed in politics, and knew nothing of his brother's schemes, but when he landed at Carracas he was thrown into prison, and only liberated on condition of leaving the country at once. He came here. Your father had him arrested again, and kept him in prison for more than a year. Your grandfather and Don Fausto Velasquez interfered to get him out, and the affair nearly ended in a complete rupture between your father and the rest of the family. It is generally believed that Don Alfonso revenged himself on Don Roderigo by sending secret information against him to Spain. Whether that is true I do not know, but soon after that your father fell into disgrace, and the two have been deadly enemies ever since. I wonder you never heard of this."