"Perfectly, padre," replied Pedro, wishing his tongue had been bitten off.
"Probably you have heard the story of the miraculous image, which came back to the cathedral in the night?"
"Yes; but at that time I was on board the Florida."
"I have just had a letter from the bishop about it."
"Indeed, padre," stammered Pedro, beginning to feel far from comfortable, as the padre began to search the pockets of his soutan.
"Dear me—dear me——where can I have put it?—he is an old college friend of mine—I have left it in my vestry; but, senor, you will be glad to learn that they have now distinct traces of the impious thief, who so sacrilegiously stole the thirteen diamond stars and the golden aureole from the holy image of Our Lady."
Pedro, who had hitherto been piling falsehood upon falsehood, winced at this communication, and felt himself grow pale; but, to his infinite relief, the padre turned away to address Don Salvador.
"Talking of thieves, ladies," said Pedro, "I had a robber encounter last night, on the hills above Valparaiso."
"An encounter—Madre de Dios—of what nature?"
And, thereupon, Pedro proceeded to detail a very spirited scuffle, in which he must have perished, as he had at least fifteen assailants, but for the unexpected arrival of his servant, the faithful Zuares.