"Off with these three," the leader said. "To the prison in the ramparts to-night--the judge to-morrow."
And as he gave his orders his men and the men of Lugo with him formed round us, prepared to obey.
But, now, for the first time Eaton spoke, approaching the leader fawningly, speaking in a soft voice.
"Señor," he said, "ere you take them away, a word. This one," looking at me, "you knew already--at Chantada; I have told you who and what he is. For the boy it matters not. He is but a follower."
Yet as he spoke I noticed he carefully avoided Juan's eyes, fixed full blaze on him as they flamed from out of his now white, marble face.
"These, I say, you know," he went on. "But for this other one--this pretended monk, this brigand of the night--you do not know him; nor who he is and what has been. Let me tell you."
"Viper," Jaime murmured. "Villain. Thief! Yet," he continued, "I stoop not to ask your silence. Speak. Tell all. But, James Eaton, beware. Caged tigers sometimes break their bars and get free."
"Yours will never be broken," the leader said, looking at the same time with a wondering glance from one to the other.
"'Tis true. 'Tis very true," Eaton went on, his voice oily, treacherous as before. "Yet since you might break yours, I give this gentleman a double reason for binding you faster. Sir," turning to him whom he so addressed, "this monk, this brigand as he appears, would be an innocent man were he that alone, in comparison with what he really is."
"Who in the name of all the fiends is he, then? Answer quick."