"It is true," he said, as he held their hands in his. "Last week Don Baltazar Hidalgo de Cisneros arrived in Monte Video, bringing his appointment by the Junta of Seville as Viceroy of Buenos Aires. When I tell you that Don Martin Alzaga is already his confidential friend I tell you all." "Don Martin Alzaga! But he is in Patagones," said Doña Constancia. "He was, mamita," said Marcelino; "but his exile was short. Elio sent an armed vessel to rescue him and the others; he has been living at his ease in Monte Video for nearly a month now." "My God! Is there then war between us and Monte Video?" "Not now, Señora," said Evaña. "This new Viceroy of ours will doubtless soon bring us all to order and make us all good friends again." As he spoke, another horseman came up the road, and, dismounting at the gate, threw his reins over a post, and walked up the narrow pathway to the house. It was Don Roderigo. The three younger men stood in silence waiting for him, their anxiety visible in their faces. "Ah! Marcelino has been before me," said Don Roderigo cheerfully. "You know the news already." "Yes," replied Don Manuel Belgrano. "How long has this new Viceroy been in Monte Video." "A week. The north winds have kept the news from us till now. He was expected in Colonia to-day." "Then to-morrow or the next day we may expect him here," said Evaña. "And the Junta of Monte Video?" asked Belgrano. "It is dissolved." "And the members imprisoned for their rebellion against the legal authority?" asked Belgrano. "No," replied Don Roderigo slowly; "they have not been imprisoned. Their proceedings were ill-judged, but they were actuated by a regard for the interests of their country, they cannot be considered as criminals." "And now they will be the counsellors of our new Viceroy," said Marcelino. "That may not be, Liniers will not give up his authority to men who have shown themselves to be his enemies." "Quietly, my son," said Don Roderigo, as Doña Constancia looked up in alarm at Marcelino's indignant words. "Liniers is a loyal servant of Spain, though he is a Frenchman; he will yield at once his authority to a successor legally appointed by the Junta Central." "Liniers holds his authority from the King of Spain; when the Junta Central have re-established the King, then the King may cancel an appointment which the King made," said Marcelino. "The appointment of Liniers came from the people," said Evaña. "Are the people to have no voice in this matter?" "Liniers has told me of the memorial in favour of free trade, which you had promised to draw up for him," said Don Roderigo, turning to Belgrano, "it will now be useless so far as he is concerned, but if you will oblige me with a copy of it I will take care that it be submitted to the attention of the new Viceroy."