"You think so! I can assure you that those times are gone, never to return."
"And he assures me that in three days I shall be put into the calabozo."
"That will not do you any great damage, and may help the cause of the people. It would be a scandal, for nothing can be even alleged against you, and we shall soon get you out again. Now that I think of it, it is well that you be arrested, the city is very quiet and an arbitrary arrest might arouse a little excitement."
"Don Carlos!" exclaimed Don Alfonso, "what is this you say to me? They will search my house and rob me."
"Rob you! unless you have some treasure buried away under the flooring I don't think they will rob you of much."
"No, Don Carlos, no! I assure you I have no treasure. You know how poor I am. What can I have to bury under the floor?"
Don Carlos looked at him attentively one moment, then taking up the Diario, he folded it carefully into a small oblong packet, wrapped it in a sheet of paper, which he carefully sealed with three seals, and drawing an inkstand towards him, endorsed it:
Proofs of the nefarious Conspiracy against the People of Buenos Aires, entertained by H. E. Don Baltazar de Cisneros, with the aid of Don Carlos Avaña and various others.
"I cannot compliment you on your choice of friends, Don Alfonso," he said, handing him the packet; "but when this distinguished major, the Señor Asneiros, next visits you, you can give him this as a proof of my treason. If after that he wishes to arrest me let him come, I am ready for him."