"I am morally certain, but it would be impossible to prove what I advance at the present time." The marquis allowed his head to fall on his breast, and remained silent for some moments. "But," pursued he, "this moral certainty is founded on certain indications?" "Oh, indications do not fail, my lord. Unhappily, these circumstances would appear very frivolous, if I revealed them to persons who were not forewarned; that is why I have abstained from saying anything to you before you asked me." "Perhaps you are right, but now the situation is changed; it is I who, of my own accord, have asked this interview with you. The situation in which we are is critical; it may become more so." "Come what may, I know I am doing my duty, and that is sufficient for me, even if Malco should come to affirm to your lordship that I have not spoken the truth about him." "You have nothing to fear about señor Malco." "Violent and wicked as he is, your lordship," answered the captain, with some animation, "I do not fear him, and he knows that well. This is not the first time we have fallen out." "I did attach to my words the meaning you give to them; you have nothing to fear from Diaz, for the simple reason that he is no longer in my service." "What! Your lordship," cried the Indian, with astonishment, "you have dismissed him?" "No, it is he himself, of his own accord, who has left us to ourselves." "Your Excellency was wrong to allow him to leave; when people have in their power a rascal of that stamp, they should not let him go." "What could I do? His engagement was up, and he refused to renew it, or even to prolong it for some days; so I was obliged to consent to his departure." "That is right, your Excellency; pardon me. This man was free, so you could not retain him; but, under similar circumstances, I should not have acted so, especially after my suspicions." "I know well that is wrong; unhappily, I had no pretext to give him, no plausible reason to keep him." "Yes, yes, all that is true; but believe me, my lord, if Malco has so abruptly left us, it is because he had strong reasons for doing so, and that he has near here some accomplices, in conjunction with whom he is preparing our ruin." "I think with you, Don Diogo; but who are these accomplices? Where are they hidden?" The captain smiled with cunning. "Only birds and fishes do not leave traces of their path," said he; "skilful as a man may be, we can always discover his track." "So you would give much to know where this man has gone to?" "Certainly, my lord; notwithstanding the precautions by which he has surrounded his flight, and the care which he has taken to hide his tracks." "Unhappily, before undertaking anything, we must wait for sunrise." "Why should we wait till tomorrow, my lord? I ask your pardon for daring to interrogate you." "Why, it appears to me that to discover a track, even if it were ever so plainly indicated, the first condition is to see clearly."