"True, I did badly in passing over that affair without notice. In that affair the first to move was your son, and because he was your son I consented to pass it over. See now your gratitude; without doubt, if there be a conspiracy he and his friend Don Carlos Evaña are the prime movers in it, and depend upon your concurrence and that of all the Spaniards." "If there be any conspiracy I feel quite sure that neither my son nor Don Carlos Evaña have any part in it." "I have heard Don Carlos speak freely his ideas years ago, and I have not forgotten it; I tell you that this Evaña is by nature a conspirator, and where he goes there goes Don Marcelino also." "In this you are mistaken, I can assure you," replied Don Roderigo warmly. "Don Carlos left the city yesterday for his estancia, saying that it was uncertain when he would return, and Marcelino thinks of nothing but of his duties at the Consulado." "But he has his ideas, which require checking. If it were not that he is your son I should arrest him and search his papers to discover what correspondence he has carried on with this Don Saturnino Rodriguez Peña, who has certainly, as you will have seen by that letter, some regular correspondents in this city." Don Roderigo rose from his chair and walked several times thoughtfully up and down the room, then reseating himself, he said: "Do not let any regard for me keep you from any step which may be necessary for the vindication of your authority. I have months since spoken to my son, and I know that he has done nothing in this matter of the Princess Carlota since he first mooted it. Still his arrest may serve him as a warning not to meddle in affairs beyond his proper sphere." "Thanks, Don Roderigo," replied the Viceroy with effusion. "This is a great sacrifice you make to me. I shall order his arrest at once, but to show you that I am actuated by no unfriendly feeling towards yourself I will entrust the examination of his papers to you together with my private secretary." "That I must beg to decline. I can leave the examination of his papers with entire confidence to anyone whom you may appoint." So saying Don Roderigo took up his hat from a chair near him and rose to go, then adding, "In anything that I can serve you always count upon me, Don Santiago," he went his way. * * * * * As Don Roderigo sat alone in his own room that evening, the door opened, and in walked Don Martin Alzaga. "Now what do you say about our Viceroy, that Liniers?" said he. "What has he done now?" asked Don Roderigo. "Do not you know? He has arrested Don Marcelino and seized his papers." "I knew it," said Don Roderigo quite calmly. "You know it, and you sit there as if it were a matter of no importance! The news has spread through the city and has caused general indignation." "So much the better, that was just what I wanted."