"Ah, I am very grateful to you for this information—very grateful."
"I made all haste to bring you warning, for to-morrow morning you will receive official notification of your retirement. But you still have a night before you for action."
"And I will use it, I assure you!" exclaimed the governor.
He rang his bell and summoned his adjutant. The latter soon appeared.
"Go at once to the judge-advocate and tell him to have all pending suits drawn up and ready to submit to the court at midnight, when it will hold an extra session. At three o'clock all the verdicts must be in my hands; at five let the accused stand ready to hear their sentences. The garrison meanwhile is to be kept under arms. Now go; despatch is the word!"
The governor turned again to his visitor. "Are you satisfied with my promptness?" he asked.
Alfonsine answered with another question. "Is Richard Baradlay one of those whose cases will come up to-night?"
"His name is among the first on the list," was the reply.
"Do not forget, your Excellency," urged the other, "that he has done us more harm than any one else."
"I know all about him, Baroness, and his case shall receive our immediate attention. And now I thank you for bringing me this word so promptly; I thank you heartily."