"Continue—he has—"
"He has entertained relations with the prisoners, whom he has known for a long time; and, in a word, that he has finished by enabling them to escape."
A slight and scarcely perceptible smile played on the thin lips of the diplomatist at this revelation; but immediately regaining his coolness—
"As to that, gentlemen," answered he, "I can immediately prove to you the falsity of this accusation brought against my unhappy compatriot."
"I should like nothing better, for my part," said Don Zeno.
"How will you do that?" demanded Don Eusebio.
"You shall see; my compatriot, or rather, my friend, lives in this very house; I will have him called."
"Very good," observed the governor; "by his answers we shall soon know what he is."
"Observe, Monsieur le Duc, that I affirm nothing," pursued Don Zeno—"that I in no way attack the honour of this caballero."
"It is of no consequence, gentlemen," cried the duke, with an expression of indignation; "if he were really guilty—which I declare impossible—I should be the first to abandon him to your justice."