PED. What’s the matter?
MAN. Oh, despicable.
PED. (tears the paper out of Manuel’s hand; stamps his foot.) Fool! Fool!
MAN. Traitor! British spy! And to think that I told you of the British Commission’s offer to Lafitte!
PED. Damn it all!
MAN. And here (shaking his hand at the paper.) I discover that you have offered to show them the way into New Orleans and earn the British money at the same time that you are pretending to serve the American Government by capturing Lafitte.
PED. Ah, have done. I admit that I drew them a careful map of the country. You have seen the written guarantee of payment from Captain Lockyer of the British navy in case the chart be found correct.
MAN. (accusingly.) You!
PED. That was the paper I had intended to be found on the ardent young man. As to Lafitte, I see no reason why I should not combine pleasure with business.
MAN. As to Lafitte, all right. He ought to be killed—curse him!—will be, if he come, but your treachery to the government is intolerable.