"In my devotion to your Excellency, in spite of the numberless dangers I should have to incur, I resolved to go and seek the information you appeared to desire so ardently, and—"
"And you went to seek it," the Count exclaimed with an eager start, though hitherto he had paid but very slight attention to the stranger's remarks.
"Well, yes, Excellency."
"Ah, ah," he said, stroking his chin; "and have you learnt anything?"
"An infinity of things, my lord."
"Well, let me hear some of them. But mind," he added, checking himself, "no hearsays or suppositions, for I have my ears stuffed with them."
"The information I shall have the honour of giving your Excellency, is derived from a good source, since I went to seek it in the very den of the ladrones."
The Count gazed with admiration at this man who had not feared to expose himself to so great a danger.
"If such is the case, pray continue, señor."
"My lord," the spy resumed, for we may henceforth give him that name; "I come from St. Christopher."