“One night in the month of November, 1808,” said he, “when I belonged to the Royal Carabiniers in the service of Spain, I was on duty upon the coast of Elanchovi, where three men disembarked from the open sea upon the beach.
“Our captain had sold to one of them the right of landing in a forbidden spot.
“I reproach myself with having been this man’s accomplice, and receiving from him the price of culpable neglect of my duty.
“The following day it was discovered that the Countess Mediana and her young son had left the castle during the night.
“The Countess was murdered—the young Count was never seen again.
“A short time after, his uncle appeared at Elanchovi and claimed his nephew’s fortune and titles. All was given up to him, and I, who believed that I had only sold my services to favour an intrigue or an affair of smuggling, found that I had been the accomplice of a murderer.
“I upbraided the present Count Mediana before witnesses, and accused him of this crime. Five years’ imprisonment at Ceuta was the reward of my presumption.
“Here before another and more righteous tribunal, and in the presence of God who is my witness, I again accuse the man before me. I declare him to be the murderer of the Countess, and the usurper of her son’s titles. He was one of the three men, who, during the night entered by escalade the chateau which Don Fabian’s mother never again beheld.
“Let the murderer refute the charge. I have done.”
“You hear him?” said Fabian, “what have you to say in your defence?”