"Send an officer," suggested Godoy.
"I have none to send of sufficient power with the people, unless you will go yourself."
"I! No, certainly not! I would not think of it," said Godoy quickly. "It would be useless; I have no authority over the mob."
"That is not quite the tone you have adopted all the morning," replied Savrola quietly, "or at least since the Government attack was repulsed." Then turning to Tiro, he said, "Let us start."
They were leaving the room when the Subaltern saw that the man who had been writing in the corner was looking at him. To his astonishment he recognised Miguel.
The Secretary bowed satirically. "Here we are again," he said; "you were wise to follow."
"You insult me," said Tiro with profound contempt. "Rats leave a sinking ship."
"The wiser they," rejoined the Secretary; "they could do no good by staying. I have always heard that aides-de-camp are the first to leave a fight."
"You are a damned dirty dog," said the Subaltern falling back on a rudimentary form of repartee with which he was more familiar.
"I can wait no longer," said Savrola in a voice that was a plain command. Tiro obeyed, and they left the room.