"What is the meaning of this, General?" they cried in terror, "Can we have fallen into a trap?"
"What do you mean?" the General said. "Oh, I beg your pardon, but I forgot to communicate to you the end of this order, which concerns you particularly, however, that will be soon done. I am instructed to have all persons shot, who refuse to subscribe to the loan demanded by the government, in order to get over the serious embarrassments the malcontents occasion it."
At the same instant, the doors were thrown wide open, and a detachment of fifty men silently surrounded the American merchants. The latter were more dead than alive—they fancied they were having a frightful dream, or suffering from a horrible nightmare. Certain that the General would not hesitate to execute the threat he had made them, the merchants did not know how to get out of the scrape. The Governor himself had made no change in his demeanour—his face was still gracious, and his voice gentle.
"Come, Señors," he said, "pray accept my heartfelt sympathy. Captain, lead away these gentlemen, and treat them with all the kindness their sad position claims."
He then bowed, and prepared to leave the room.
"One moment," the old merchant said, quite appalled by the approach of death; "are there no means of settling this business, General?"
"I only know one—paying."
"I am well aware of that," he said with a sigh; "but, alas! we are ruined."
"What can I do? You know, and yourselves allowed, that I am quite unconnected with this unhappy affair."
"Alas," the poor merchants exclaimed in chorus, "you will not kill us, surely, General; we are fathers of families, what will become of our wives and children?"