"A mission!" the count said with surprise. "The word is perhaps very ambitious, but the matter is this--Father Pelagio wishes you to give him an interview for a few minutes in this room." "Did I not see him just now, and did we not have a conversation?" "That is true; but at the moment he was among too many persons to be able to have an explanation with your Excellency, as he would have probably desired." "I do not know whether my instructions permit me to grant a confidential interview to the person to whom you allude; still, not to disoblige you, my dear Don Aníbal, and prove to you how anxious I am to maintain the public tranquillity, I consent to the interview Father Pelagio asks, on the condition, however, that you are present." "Your Excellency anticipates my wish," the priest said as he entered the room. "You were listening to us, señor," the count remarked haughtily. "Not at all, caballero; but, as I opened the door, I involuntary overheard your last sentence, and I did not think that I committed any indiscretion in proving to you that I heard it." "Very good, I am ready to listen to you; but pray be brief." "I have only a few words to say to you," Father Pelagio replied with a bow. "What is their nature?" "I am about to have the honour of explaining. We regret, as much as you do, caballero, the continued wretchedness which has weighed on our unhappy country for so many years; far from wishing to recommence the war, we desire, on the contrary, to obtain a durable peace, if it be possible; but, in order to gain this result, which is the object we desire, we must have the means of transmitting to his Excellency the Viceroy our respectful entreaties." "Respectful?" the count interrupted ironically. The priest bowed, and continued without seeming to notice the accent in which this word was uttered-- "We have, therefore, resolved on sending to the Viceroy one of our friends intrusted with a humble petition, if you will consent, Señor Conde, to pledge your honour that this petition shall reach his Excellency, and that whatever the Viceroy's answer may be, our ambassador will have nothing to fear, and be at liberty to go whither he pleases, without being troubled, so soon as his mission is ended." The count reflected for a moment.