Jackson. Four hundred and forty-one, sir. This is the four hundred and forty-second application for your son's position, sir. Don Jose. Pardon. This is not an application: it is only information or caution. Old Morton (to JACKSON). How many letters of information or caution have we received? Jackson. This makes seven hundred and eighty-one, sir. Old Morton. How, sir! (Quickly.) There were but seven hundred and seventy-nine last night. Jackson. Beg pardon, sir! The gentleman who carried Mr. Alexander's valise from the boat was the seven hundred and eightieth. Old Morton. Explain yourself, sir. Jackson. He imparted to me, while receiving his stipend, the fact that he did not believe young Mr. Alexander was your son. An hour later, sir, he also imparted to me confidentially that he believed you were his father, and requested the loan of five dollars, to be repaid by you, to enable him to purchase a clean shirt, and appear before you in respectable condition. He waited for you an hour, and expressed some indignation that he had not an equal show with others to throw himself into your arms. Don Jose (rising, aside, and uplifting his hands). Carramba! These Americanos are of the Devil! (Aloud.) Enough, Don Alexandro! Then you think this letter is only worth-- Old Morton. One moment. I can perhaps tell you exactly its market value. (To JACKSON.) Go on, sir. Jackson. At half-past ten, sir, then being slightly under the influence of liquor, he accepted the price of a deck passage to Stockton. Old Morton. How much was that, sir? Jackson. Fifty cents. Old Morton. Exactly so! There you have, sir (to DON JOSE), the market value of the information you have received. I would advise you, as a business matter, not to pay more. As a business matter, you can at any time draw upon us for the amount. (To JACKSON.) Admit Mr. Capper. [Exit JACKSON. Don Jose (rising with dignity). This is an insult, Don Alexandro. Old Morton. You are wrong, Mr. Castro: it is BUSINESS; sought, I believe, by yourself. Now that it is transacted, I beg you to dine with me to-morrow to meet my niece. No offence, sir, no offence. Come, come! Business, you know, business. Don Jose (relaxing). Be it so! I will come. (Aside.) These Americanos, these Americanos, are of the Devil! (Aloud.) Adios. (Going.) I hear, by report, that you have met with the misfortune of a serious loss by robbery? Old Morton (aside). So our mishap is known everywhere. (Aloud.) No serious misfortune, Mr. Castro, even if we do not recover the money. Adios. [Exit Don Jose. Old Morton. The stiff-necked Papist! That he should dare, for the sake of his black-browed, froward daughter, to--question the faith on which I have pinned my future! Well, with God's blessing, I gave him some wholesome discipline. If it were not for my covenant with Alexander--and nobly he has fulfilled his part,--I should forbid his alliance with the blood of this spying Jesuit. Enter Mr. JACKSON, leading in CAPPER.