"My popularity while it exists; but if the people themselves pronounce against me? Think you that I will uphold my authority by force against the will of the people?"
"Your popularity would vanish at once were you to do so."
"If because I was born in France the people trust me no longer let them say so."
"Then if the people speak clearly their distrust of you, you will resign?"
To this Liniers did not answer, passing his hand across his forehead, leaning back in his chair with an air of great discontent, and Don Roderigo continued:
"Permit me to tell you, Don Santiago, that if you yield at once to a popular cry you sap the basis of all authority. If the people, applying through the corporations of the city, should request you to resign, I think you may take the matter into serious consideration, but not sooner."
"There is some secret conspiracy going forward; am I to take no steps to prevent it ripening into a rebellion?"
"Wait till we have more certain information, the Cabildo will advise you at once if there be danger of any attempt against your authority."
"How can I tell that the Cabildo itself is not in the conspiracy?" replied the Viceroy, looking sternly at Don Roderigo; "all are Spaniards. Elio and those who support him in Monte Video are all Spaniards. I distrust the Cabildo more than I do the people."
"You may have your reasons of which I know nothing," said Don Roderigo; "but the Cabildo would never venture upon any steps against you unless they were perfectly secure of the general acquiescence of the city."