While he was speaking, Pedro had contrived to rise and seize his other arm. "How dare you tell me so abominable a falsehood?" exclaimed Don Luis.--"Wretch! you are in my power, and deserve to die." "I am in your power at this moment, I very well know," answered the Friar; "but, if you were to kill me, you would not benefit yourselves. I should therefore advise you to allow me to return quietly to bed, and I shall be grateful; if not, a cry from me would bring a whole party of men, who have sworn to avenge themselves on you, and who would make small ceremony in cutting all your throats, and burying you before morning." "I grant you your life, then, in trust that you will show your gratitude," said Don Luis. "Was a Capuchin friar ever ungrateful?" exclaimed their prisoner. "Well, then, I should advise you to barricade the door, load your arms, call your servants, and declare, if any body tries to enter, you will shoot me. Now, having given you my advice, let me go quietly to bed again, for I really am ill, and undertook only to withdraw your pistols, lest you should hurt anybody with them." "Well, Senhor Frade," answered Don Luis, laughing, "you certainly are a most cool and impudent gentleman; but I will trust to you, when we have secured the door; in the meantime, you must consent to sit quiet for awhile, with your arms tied behind you, in this chair." "Take care what you are about, senhores. You hurt my arm, which I sprained badly the other day, or you would not have caught me so easily," observed the Friar. "Oh!" thought Pedro, as he saw that the friar's arm was bandaged up and bloody, "Well, well, holy Father, you must sit quiet then," he added, aloud, then called to his fellow-servant: "Come here, Bento, and take the liberty of shooting the friar through the head, if he attempts to call out, while I assist our master in securing the fortress. I'll be answerable for your getting absolution." The friar was therefore obliged to sit down, while Bento stood over him; Don Luis, and the rest of the party, with as little noise as possible, placing the tables and chairs against the door, though such a barricade would offer but slight resistance, should any strong force be used outside. They then examined the room well, to see that no one else was hidden there, and to discover if there were any other outlets, by which they might be surprised. In the course of the search, as Pedro was looking into the cell of the friar, he discovered a broad-brimmed hat, thrown under the foot of the bed, so he brought it out, and placed it on that reverend person's head, nodding most approvingly, as if to an old acquaintance; then threw it back to whence he had taken it. "You may now retire to your couch, Senhor Frade," said Don Luis.--"We will no longer disturb the tranquillity of your slumbers; and, on condition that you do your best to aid us, you shall not suffer."