"Liniers has given him a captain's commission, but I don't know if he has joined any regiment yet." "He is a smart soldier, but he is all a Spaniard. Do you know, if there were many Spaniards among us like him we could never have the country to ourselves, they would beat us if we came to fighting." "There are many Spaniards as good as he," replied Evaña; "but not for that have I any fear. The Spanish system keeps the good men down, that is the weakness of Spain, and that is also the reason why we must free ourselves from Spain. We have many good men amongst us, but nothing can they do so long as Spain and the Spanish system rule over us." "True. I shall see Asneiros some day, and shall keep my eye on him." "Well, you have my bad news, now for the good ones. Your friend Gordon has come back with Don Fausto, and is coming with me to see you this afternoon." "Viva! Yes, that is good." "You can talk to him as much as you like about the grey-eyed Magdalen. She talks English as well as I do, and Gordon and she are great friends." "And Gordon, poor fellow, will be a prisoner yet for no one knows how long." "He does not seem to fret about it. Very few prisoners find such kind gaolers; I am sure I do not pity him." "What made him go to Don Fausto's estancia?" "He had to go somewhere, for if he had been seen by any English officer he would have been claimed, so Don Fausto took him with him when he went back." "Then was Don Fausto in the city on the 5th July?" "Did I never tell you? He came in with a party of peons all armed to the teeth, as soon as he heard that the English had landed. He got into town on the night of the 4th, and without resting a moment set to work to turn his house into a fortification; a lot of the Patricios went to help him, and there they stood all day waiting for some Englishmen to come and be shot, and not one went anywhere near them." "I should have thought that was exactly where the English would have tried to go in. Don Juan Martin Puyrredon went by that street on the 12th August, with Don Isidro Lorea to help him." "They did try, but poor Don Isidro stopped them." "Don Isidro! what about him? Now your voice changed when you spoke of him," said Marcelino, raising himself on his elbow and looking earnestly at Evaña. "It was a slip," said Evaña sadly. "I did not intend to have told you yet, but you must know some day. He was killed, fighting like a hero at the head of his men. Could you wish for a better death yourself--fighting for his country in defence of his own home?" "And Doña Dalmacia! what a blow for her! How does she bear it?" "I have not seen her since. He completely beat the English and captured a gun. Don't ask me any more about it; when you are well and strong again we will go all round the city together, and I will tell you all I know of the attack and the defence. But I have something else to tell you now. Your Uncle Gregorio is missing."