t
something worse. He has left in his native place a record of crimes
well known, with others more than suspected. In short, he is, as I have
told you, a robber. No doubt you wonder that such a man should be an
officer in our army. That is because you are ignorant of the state of
our service--our society as well. It is but the result of constantly
recurring changes in our political system. Still you may feel surprise
at his holding this commission, with the patriotic party--the pure one--
in power, as it now is. That might be inexplicable even to myself,
since I know that he will be traitor to our cause when convenient to
him. But I also know the explanation. There is a power, even when the
party exercising it is not in the ascendant--an influence that works by
sap and secrecy. It is that of our hierarchy. Gil Uraga is one of its
tools, since it exactly suits his low instincts and treacherous
training. Whenever the day is ripe for a fresh _pronunciamento_ against
our liberties--if we are so unfortunate as to have one--he will be
amongst the foremost of the traitors. _Carrai_! I can think of him
only with disgust and loathing. Would you believe it, senor, that this
fellow, now that epaulettes have been set on his shoulders--placed there
for some vile service--has the audacity to aspire to the hand of my
sister? Adela Miranda standing in bridal robes by the side of Gil
Uraga! I would rather see her in her shroud!"

Hamersley's bosom heaved up as he listened to the last words, and with
emotion almost equalling that which excited his host. He had just been
thinking about the portrait upon the wall, and how beautiful the
original must be. Now hearing her name coupled with that of the ruffian
whose blow he had felt, and whose blood he had spilled, he almost
regretted not having ended that duel by killing his adversary outright.

"But surely, Colonel Miranda," he said at length, "there could be no
danger of such an event as that you speak of?"

"Never, so long as I live. But, amigo, as you have learnt, this is a
strange land--a country of quick changes. I am here to-day, commanding
in this district, with power, I may almost say, over the lives of all
around me. To-morrow I may be a fugitive, or dead. If the latter,
where is she, my poor sister, going to find the arm that could protect
her?"

Again the breast of Hamersley heaved in a convulsive manner. Strange as
it might appear, the words of his new