d; he resolved that he would
do nothing which could by any possibility be construed into either tacit
consent to methods of delay or an acceptance of proffered friendship; he
was there as an enemy and an avenger, and he was determined to keep this
fact prominently to the fore; consequently the constraint rapidly grew
until, so far as Don Manuel at least was concerned, it became
unendurable, and, rising, he begged that his visitors would excuse him,
upon the plea that he desired to expedite matters by personally
directing the search for the required information.

And apparently the stimulus of his presence was successful, for after an
absence of about a quarter of an hour he returned, bearing in his hand a
book between the pages of which slips of paper had been inserted to mark
the positions of certain entries.

"There," he exclaimed, in a tone of satisfaction, as he laid the book
upon the table and opened it, "by a stroke of singular good fortune,
senor, we have been able to at once lay our hands upon the record which
will furnish you with the information you require. Here, for instance,
is the first entry, giving the names of the Englishmen who were captured
upon the occasion to which you refer. They number forty-three, and
their names are as follows." He proceeded to read out the names of the
unfortunate ones, among which occurred that of Hubert Saint Leger--"a
namesake of your own, senor," commented Don Manuel. "Was he, perchance,
a relative of yours?"

"He was my brother, senor," answered George, tersely. "Read on, if you
please."

The end of the list was soon reached; and then George said: "I am
obliged to you, senor. Now, in the first place, I must trouble you for
a copy of that list, with a statement opposite each name setting forth
the manner in which that person was dealt with."

"Certainly, senor," answered Don Manuel, politely; "that information
also I believe we can afford you. If you will permit me I will summon
my clerk to prepare the list you require."

George bowed his acquiescence; the clerk was sent for; and after about
an hour's work the list was completed and handed to the young
Englishman, who took it and, having glanced carefully through it, said:

"I am obliged to you, Don Manuel. I see that, of the forty-three
prisoners taken, ten died of their wounds, in prison; seventeen, of whom
my brother was one, were sentenced to the galleys, and sixteen were
claimed by your Inquisition. Ca