The Indians went out and dispersed; the Sambo alone remained with Manangani, who asked him: "Does the Sambo know what sentiment conducted his son to San Lazaro? The Sambo, I trust, is sure of his son?" The eyes of the Indian flashed, and the blood mounted to his cheek. The ferocious Manangani recoiled. But the Indian controlled himself, and said: "If Martin Paz has betrayed his brethren, I will first kill all those to whom he has given his friendship, all those to whom he has given his love! Then I will kill him, and myself afterward, that nothing may be left beneath the sun of an infamous, and dishonored race." At this moment, the _padrona_ opened the door of the room, advanced toward the Sambo, and handed him a billet directed to his address. "Who gave you this?" said he. "I do not know; this paper may have been designedly forgotten by a _chica_-drinker. I found it on the table." "Have there been any but Indians here?" "There have been none but Indians." The _padrona_ went out; the Sambo unfolded the billet, and read aloud: "A young girl has prayed for the return of Martin Paz, for she has not forgotten that the young Indian protected her and risked his life for her. If the Sambo has any news of his poor son, or any hope of finding him, let him surround his arm with a red handkerchief; there are eyes which see him pass daily." The Sambo crushed the billet in his hand. "The unhappy boy," said he, "has suffered himself to be caught by the eyes of a woman." "Who is this woman?" asked Manangani. "It is not an Indian," replied the Sambo, observing the billet; "it is some young girl of the other classes. Martin Paz, I no longer know thee!" "Shall you do what this woman requests?" "No," replied the Indian, violently; "let her lose all hope of seeing him again; let her die, if she will." And the Sambo tore the billet in a rage. "It must have been an Indian who brought this billet," observed Manangani. "Oh, it cannot have been one of ours! He must have known that I often came to this inn, but I will set my foot in it no more. We have occupied ourselves long enough with trifling affairs," resumed he, coldly; "let my brother return to the mountains; I will remain to watch over the city. We shall see whether the fete of the Amancaes will be joyous for the oppressors or the oppressed!" The two Indians separated. The plan of the conspiracy was well conceived and the hour of its execution well chosen. Peru, almost depopulated, counted only a small number of Spaniards and mestizoes. The invasion of the Indians, gathered from every direction, from the forests of Brazil, as well as the mountains of Chili and the plains of La Plata, would cover the theatre of war with a formidable army. The great cities, like Lima, Cusco, Puna, might be utterly destroyed; and it was not to be expected that the Colombian troops, so recently driven away by the Peruvian government, would come to the assistance of their enemies in peril.