“What thing?”
“An endeavour on my part to do a service to Mexico and its honoured ruler.”
“Oh, indeed! In what way, Señor Colonel?”
“That band of filibusteros, of which, as your Excellency will remember—”
“Yes—yes,” interrupted Santa Anna impatiently. He evidently knew all about that, and preferred hearing no more of it. “It was one of the filibusteros you fought with, I suppose?”
“Yes, Excellentissimo; the one they chose for their captain.”
“You were angry at his being preferred to yourself, and so called him out? Well, that was cause enough to a man of your mettle. But what became of him afterwards? Was he among those at Mier?”
“He was.”
“Killed there?”
“No, your Excellency; only taken prisoner.”