"Perhaps so, my lord; however, I will only speak, if your Excellency orders me, and before doing so, will beg you to forgive anything that may seem offensive to your honour in what I may say to you." The Count turned pale and frowned portentously. "Take care," he said to him in a threatening voice, "take care lest you go beyond your object, and in trying to prove too much, fall into the contrary excess. The honour of my name is not to be played with, and I will never allow the slightest stain to be imprinted on it." "I have not the slightest intention to insult your Excellency; my zeal on your behalf has alone urged me to speak as I have done." "Very good--I am willing to believe it; still, as the honour of my name regards myself alone, I do not allow any person the right to assail it, not even in a good intention." "I ask your Excellency's pardon, but I have doubtless explained myself badly. What I have to tell you relates to a plot, formed, doubtless, without her knowledge, against the Countess." "A plot formed against the Countess!" Don Stenio exclaimed, violently; "What do you mean, señor? Explain at once--I insist on it." "My lord, since it is your wish, I will speak. Is not her ladyship, the Countess, at this moment in the vicinity of the small town of San Juan?" "She is; but how do you know it, since, as you told me you have only been back to Saint Domingo for a few hours?" "I presumed so, because on board the vessel in which I returned to Hispaniola, I heard something about an interview which the chief of the adventurers was to have in a few days in the neighbourhood of the Artibonite." "Oh!" the Count exclaimed; "You lie, scoundrel!" "For what object, my lord?" the spy answered, coolly. "How do I know? through hatred, envy, perhaps." "I," he said, with a shrug of his shoulders. "Nonsense, my lord. Men like me--spies, if things must be called by their proper name--are only led away by one passion--that of money." "But what you tell me is impossible," the Count observed, with agitation. "What prevents you from assuring yourself that I speak the truth, my lord?" "I will do so, _¡Viva Dios!_" he exclaimed, stamping his foot furiously. Then he walked up to the spy, who was standing calm and motionless in the centre of the room, and fixed on him a glance full of rage, but impossible to describe. "Listen, villain!" he said in a hollow voice, half choked with passion; "If you have lied, you shall die!" "Agreed, my lord," the spy replied, coldly; "but if I have spoken the truth?" "If you have spoken the truth," he exclaimed, but suddenly broke off, "but no, it is impossible, I repeat!" and seeing a fugitive smile playing round the lips of his companion, he added, "well, be it so; if you have spoken the truth, you shall fix your own reward, and whatever it may be, on my word as a gentleman, you shall have it." "Thanks, my lord," he replied, with a bow; "I hold you to your word."