"Señor Padre," interrupted Jack, "you don't mean to say you have told him?"
"Indeed, and what more natural? Is it right to condemn unheard? Should I not ask of the man himself what—"
"Come to the general!" shouted Tio Jorge, catching the priest by the arm. "Come to the general! He must know of what you have done."
They made their way to Palafox's room, where none but Don Basilio remained with him.
"Don José needs sleep," said the chaplain, meeting them at the door. "What do you want with him?"
"Caramba, Padre!" cried Tio Jorge, "he must know whether the man be a traitor or not. Listen to Padre Consolacion!"
The priest seemed amazed at the fuss Tio Jorge was making.
"I went, Señores, to find Don Miguel Priego, to ask him, on his honour, whether there was a word of truth in the English Señor's story. He was indignant, as I knew he would be. He demanded to know why he, a loyal son of Spain, should be suspected on such flimsy grounds. He scoffed when I spoke of the scorched paper, and—"
"You told him that, Padre?" said Palafox, raising himself on his elbow.
"I did, of course, and he flew into a passion, and said that with morning light he would come and meet his accuser and give him the lie to his face."