Don Jayme was staring at him with dilating eyes. His face glowed. «I vow to Heaven I should never have thought of it,» he said at last.
«Your modesty made you blind to the opportunity.»
«It may be that,» Don Jayme admitted.
«But you perceive it now that I indicate it?»
«Oh, I perceive it. Yes, the King of Spain shall be impressed.»
Frey Alonso seemed downcast. He had been counting upon his auto de fe. Dona Hernanda was chiefly puzzled by the sudden geniality of her hitherto haughty and disdainful pretended cousin. Meanwhile Don Pedro piled Pelion upon Ossa.
«It should prove to his Majesty that your Excellency is wasted in so small a settlement as Porto Rico. I see you as governor of some more important colony. Perhaps as viceroy … Who shall say? You have displayed a zeal such as has rarely been displayed by any Spanish governor overseas.»
«But how and when to send them to Spain?» wondered Don Jayme, who no longer questioned the expediency of doing so.
«Why, that is a matter in which I can serve your Excellency. I can convey them for you on the San Tomas which should call for me at any moment now. You will write another letter to his Majesty, offering him these evidences of your zeal, and I will bear it together with these captives. Your general amnesty can wait until I've sailed with them. Thus there will be nothing to mar it. It will be complete and properly imposing.»
So elated and so grateful to his guest for his suggestion was Don Jayme that he actually went the length of addressing him as cousin in the course of thanking him.