"Well, señor," said I, briskly, "are you fully prepared to answer for the attack you have made upon us?"
"Answer," he reiterated, with something between a frown and disdainful smile; "to whom?"
"The captain general of Andalusia."
"I have so many things to answer for already to that illustrious Caballero of Seville, that he will be very apt to forget your little affair among others."
"But the Governor of Her Brittanic Majesty's garrison at Gibraltar will refresh both his memory and yours, rascal!" said poor Slingsby, whose face was streaming with blood.
"Stuff, señores. Our Lady Donna Isabella II. alone is Queen of Gibraltar, whatever you may believe to the contrary."
"Then there is our ambassador at Madrid," said I, swelling with passion.
"Let the Señor Embajador come hither to seek you, if he chooses," replied Fabrique, with a scowl, while his band made the wooded hollow ring with their laughter.
"For what reason, and with what purpose, is this outrage committed upon us?" asked Jack, more calmly.
"The reason is here," said Fabrique, throwing up a heavy purse. "From the noble Don Joaquim, Major in the service of the young king Don Pedro V., I have received one thousand duros to intercept you——"