"Some of the conversation, sir, from which I gathered that this
unfortunate man"--pointing to Morgan, who as one of the chief actors in
the transaction had been placed in the front rank of the circle,
although tightly bound and guarded by the grim soldiers--"claimed to be
the father of the brave young soldier."

"Ay, and he hath established the claim," answered de Lara.

"Nay, my lord, that can not be."

"Why not, sir," interrupted Alvarado, stepping forward.

"Because it is not true."

"Thank God, thank God!" cried Alvarado. Indeed, he almost shouted in his
relief.

"How know you this?" asked Mercedes.

"My lady, gentles all, I have proof irrefutable. He is not the child of
that wicked man. His father is----"

"I care not who," cried Alvarado, having passed from death unto life in
the tremendous moments, "even though he were the meanest and poorest
peasant, so he were an honest man."

"My lord," said the priest, "he was a noble gentleman."

"I knew it, I knew it!" cried Mercedes. "I said it must be so."

"Ay, a gentleman, a gentleman!" burst from the officers in the room.

"Your Excellency," continued the old man, turning to the Viceroy. "His
blood is as noble as your own."

"His name?" said the old man, who had stood unmoved in the midst of the
tumult.

"Captain Alvarado that was," cried the Dominican, with an inborn love of
the dramatic in his tones, "stand forth. My lord and lady, and gentles
all, I present to you Don Francisco de Guzman, the son of his
excellency, the former Governor of Panama and of his wife, Isabella
Zerega, a noble and virtuous lady, though of humbler walk of life and
circumstance than her husband."

"De Guzman! De Guzman!" burst forth from the soldiers.

"It is a lie!" shouted Hornigold. "He is Morgan's son. He was given to
me as such. I left him at Cuchillo. You found him, sir----"

He appealed to the Viceroy.

"My venerable father, with due respect to you, sir, we require something
more than your unsupported statement to establish so great a fact," said
the Viceroy deliberately, although the sparkle in his eyes belied his
calm.

"Your grace speaks well," said Morgan, clutching at his hope still.

"I require nothing more. I see and believe," interrupted Mercedes.

"But I want proof," sternly said her father.

"And you shall have it," answered the priest. "That cross he wears----"

"As I am about to die!" exclaimed Morgan, "I saw his mother wear it many
a time, a