"Ah! Is not that the Island where the bandits take shelter?"
"Yes, my lord, and more than that, I returned in one of their vessels."
"Oh, oh," said the governor, "pray tell me all about it, my dear Don Antonio: that is your name, I believe?"
"Yes, my lord; Don Antonio de la Ronda."
"You see," the Count added with a smile; "that I have a good memory sometimes," and he laid a stress on these words, which made the spy's heart bound with joy.
The latter told him in what way he had entered the island, how he had been discovered and made prisoner by Montbarts, who put him on board one of his vessels; how a great expedition had been decided on by the adventurers against the island of Saint Domingo, in the first place, and then against Tortuga, which the ladrones had a plan for surprising, and on which they intend to establish themselves; and in what way, on reaching Port Margot, he had succeeded in escaping, and had hastened to bear the news to his Excellency the governor.
The Count listened with the most serious attention to Don Antonio's narrative, and in proportion as it progressed, the governor's brow became more anxious; in fact, the spy had not deceived him. The news was of the utmost gravity.
"Hum!" he answered; "And is it long since the ladrones arrived at Port Margot?"
"Eight days, Excellency."
"¡Sangre de Cristo! so long as that, and I had not been informed of it?"