in that way to me!
Answer my questions only, and make no remarks of your own. I say that
the man Cavendish is a pirate, and that is sufficient. Now, you are
both heretics, that I know, and I am shortly going to the trouble of
attempting to convert you to the only true faith, through the gentle,
loving, and persuasive methods applied to heretics by the most Holy
Inquisition. You had an example, only the other day, of the way in
which Mother Church deals with those who obey her not. She always uses
the most gentle means to bring about conversion, and would lead heretics
to a knowledge of the true faith by loving-kindness alone, as no doubt
you noticed in the case of the man de Soto, who was undergoing the
process of persuasion when you were last here." And he gave vent to a
most horrible and grating laugh.

"I am deeply grieved to inform you," he continued, "that de Soto
persisted in denying all knowledge of a certain matter, and--well, he is
dead now, rest his soul!" he added sardonically.

"Since seeing you two," he resumed, "I have come to the conclusion that
I was perhaps somewhat hasty with de Soto, and imagine it is possible
that he did not possess the knowledge I credited him with, and it may be
that I punished him unjustly. But that little matter is now past
regret, and we have to deal with the present. The matter in hand deals
with the loss of a certain document from the cabin of a Spanish
war-vessel, the _Gloria del Mundo_, which ship you both doubtless
remember. I thought at first that de Soto was responsible for its
disappearance; but, if my memory serves me aright, you two lads left the
vessel after de Soto and myself, and, from what I have gathered, I
imagine that you may know something about the paper. If you know, tell
me where it is, and I will spare you; but if you decide not to speak--
well, you saw what de Soto suffered the other day, and his treatment was
gentle compared with what yours will be unless you decide to tell me
where that paper is to be found, for I am convinced that you know. Now,
speak; speak--you!" Again Harry acted as spokesman, and replied:

"Senor Alvarez, we have heard what you say, and we know to what paper
you refer; but we have it not. It is no longer in existence, and
consequently it can never be found. You may do your worst; but though
you should torture us both to death, it is not in our power, or that of
any other mortal, to give you a document which does not