nd my own existence. And that
day will come or there is no God!"

The old man rose to his feet deeply agitated. With his eyes sparkling
like fire and, in a hollow voice, he added, tearing his long hair:

"Curses upon me, curses upon me for having restrained the avenging
hand of my sons. I have assassinated them! Had I allowed them to kill
the criminal; had I had less faith in the justice of God and of men,
I would now have my sons; perhaps they would have been fugitives,
but I would have them and they would not have died in torture. I
was not born to be a father! For that reason, I haven't them with
me now! Curses upon me for not having learned, with all my years,
in what age we live! But in blood and fire, and in my own death,
I will know how to take vengeance for them!"

The unfortunate father, in the paroxysm of his grief, had taken off
the bandage from his head, opening up a wound which he had on the
forehead and from which the blood oozed out.

"I respect your grief," replied Elias, "and I understand your desire
for vengeance. I, too, am like you, but, for fear of harming an
innocent one, I prefer to forget my misfortunes."

"You can forget them because you are young, and because you have
not lost your son, have not lost your last hope! But, I assure you,
I will not harm an innocent person. Do you see that wound? I allowed
myself to receive that in order not to kill a poor cuaderillero who
was fulfilling his duty."

"But see!" said Elias, after a moment's silence. "See what frightful
destruction you will bring upon our unfortunate country. If you seek
revenge by your own hand your enemies will retaliate, not against
you, not against those who are armed, but against the people, who
are always accused, and then how many more injustices!"

"Let the people learn to defend themselves. Let each learn to defend
himself."

"You know that that is impossible. Senor, I have known you in other
times when you were happy, then you gave me wise advice. Will you
permit me...?"

The old man crossed his arms and seemed to meditate upon what he was
going to say.

"Senor," continued Elias, measuring his words well, "I have had the
fortune to be of service to a young man, rich, of good heart, noble,
and a lover of his country's welfare. They say that this young man
has friends in Madrid. I do not know it, but I can positively assure
you that he is a friend of the Governor General. What do you say if
we make him the bearer