On a hard straw mattress, almost in shadow, lay Jarima, his face covered with blood, which oozed in streams from his mouth.
Henrique gazed for an instant on the awful sight, then turned towards his men.
"We have arrived a little too late; blind men cannot see, or dumb ones tell tales. Some horrible wretch has done this deed, fearful of his betraying them. I wonder who?"
The woman, when questioned, could tell them nothing. She only knew her husband had been brought home in his present condition at daybreak, and remained unconscious since.
"I regret to say it is our painful duty to take him; every care will be given him. He is suspected of having murdered Luiz Falcam."
"No, no; you are mistaken! It is some one else, not he. Jarima was much too gentle to kill any one!" the woman cried, passionately.
Her prayers and supplications were unavailing. Henrique was obliged to do his duty, and bade his men take the suffering man to prison.
Some hours later, as Diniz stood in his room, just before setting out in search of Henrique, that man entered the house, followed by several soldiers.
"Diniz Sampayo, I arrest you on the charge of having stolen a poignard, set with jewels, from Manuel Tonza de Sepulveda."
Diniz started, and flushed angrily.