eneral resounded through the chamber, that I
remembered where I was.

"Prisoner!" said he, in a stern, authoritative tone, "you have now heard
the nature of the charge against you, and the reasons of your arrest;
you will answer certain questions, the replies to which, if not in
accordance with truth, constitute the crime of 'Traicion,' the penalty
being death. What is your name?"

"Con Cregan."

"Native of what country?"

"Ireland."

"What rank and position do you hold in society?"

"A variable one,--as luck favors me."

"What trade or profession do you follow?"

"Whatever seems most convenient at the moment."

"Have you served?"

"I have."

"In the land or sea service?"

"In both."

"With what grade?"

"Nothing very distinguished."

"Have you ever held the command of an expedition?"

"I have."

"With what object, and where?"

"In the prairies of South America, to shoot red-deer.". "Remember, sir,"
said the General, "this is no occasion for untimely jest; these sallies
may cost you more dearly than you think for."

"If I am to speak the truth," said I, boldly, "I must answer as I have
done. If you want fiction, I 'm ready for you at a moment's notice."

"Make a note of that, Jose!--' says that he is perfectly indifferent
whether he tells truth or falsehood.'"

"And add, by way of parenthesis," said I, "that the General is precisely
of my own way of thinking."

"Write down,' insults the commission,'" said the General, boiling with
rage.

The paragraph seemed a full one, for the interrogating was not resumed
for some minutes.

"Now, sir," resumed the General, "state your object in coming to the
country."

"To get out of it as fast as I could."

"For whose use were the arms provided,--the horses and horse equipage
with which you embarked?"

"My own."

"Name the agent or agents of Don Carlos with whom you have held
correspondence?"

"None. I never knew any."

"By whose hands were the large sums of money in your possession
intrusted to you?"

"I found them."

"How, and where?"

"In a hole."

The General's face grew purple; and more than once I could see the
struggle it cost him to repress his bursting indignation. And in the
mutterings he let fall to his secretary, it was easy to mark that his
comments on the evidence were not too favorable.

"Were you acquainted with Brigadier Hermose Gonzillos?"

"No."

"Nor with his brother, the Canon Gonzillos?"

"No."

"When d