Gordon hesitated, looking wistfully at his friend ere he answered:
"I should have to do my duty, but do not let us suppose anything like that. Have you heard nothing of your friend the Señor Evaña? You told me you thought he had gone to England."
"No, I have heard nothing from him since I received that letter from Monte Video that I told you of. If he has gone to England I shall not hear again from him for months."
"General Beresford has declared publicly that he considers it the true policy for England to aid you natives in freeing yourselves from Spain."
"Yes, General Beresford has been very incautious, and has no right to complain that he is now a prisoner at Lujan, instead of being free on parole in Buenos Aires; many good men are in prison now for listening to him."
"And you think you are not ready yet for independence?"
"No, we are not. You have met Don Manuel Belgrano at our house in town I think?"
"A soft-eyed man, with a long nose, and neither beard nor whiskers, who talks English and French?"
"Yes, that is he. He is now major of the Patricios, and no officer is more active than he is in drilling the men, or more zealous in urging all of us to prepare for another struggle with the English. He is no friend to Spain, yet he says, 'The old master or none at all,' and so say all of us."
"When Sobremonte comes back the first thing he will do will be to disarm your militia."