“Don Crisostomo has never communicated with us.”
“Don’t deny it! You wanted to surprise us for him!”
“You are mistaken. You whipped our father to death. We avenged him and nothing more. Look for your two soldiers!”
The alferez looked at the sergeant, surprised.
“They are at the bottom of that precipice. We threw them there yesterday. There they will rot. Now kill me! You will know nothing more.”
Silence and general surprise.
“You are not going to tell who were your accomplices?” said the alferez in a threatening manner and brandishing a whip.
A scornful smile curled the lips of the culprit.
The alferez conferred for some minutes with the curate in a low voice. Then turning to the soldiers, he ordered:
“Take him to where the dead bodies are!”