The Governor General Weyler caused a dispatch to be sent to him which stated that he "was too valuable a man for the State to lose his services," that his past conduct would be overlooked, and that he could safely return to his own island.
Honest himself, he could not believe that the dispatch was insincere.
He went back to Manila. His foes were bent on his destruction.
He was one day absent from his rooms attending probably to his medical duties, when some soldiers led by a spy entered his apartments and searched his trunks and pretended to find there seditious books.
Dr. Rizal was arrested. His enemies formed the court to try him for treason.
The books were put out as evidence against him.
"I imported no books," said he.
"But the books are here."
"The customhouse officers found no books in my trunks," said Dr. Rizal.
"But here are the books that witness against you."