sides, I have received a definite promise
that, if caught, I shall be very leniently treated."

"Oh, you have, have you?" exclaimed Carlos, in a tone that seemed to
indicate that he was beginning to see daylight. "That seems to point to
the fact that your employer is a man possessing a considerable amount of
influence with the authorities. But I fancy he must have entirely
forgotten the British Consul at Havana. Does he, or do you, imagine for
a moment that that gentleman will permit any tampering with justice
where one of his countrymen is concerned? Make no mistake about that,
my friend! So surely as you are brought to trial, so surely may you
rely upon receiving the maximum amount of punishment for your crime."

"Santa Maria!" gasped Panza. "I had forgotten that."

"I suspected as much," answered Carlos. "Now, if Senor Singleton here
should chance to be disposed to be merciful, to the extent of permitting
you to go free, would you be willing in return to swear upon that
crucifix which I see you wear round your neck that you will make no
further attempt upon his life; and also to disclose the name of your
employer?"

"That would be no good, Senor," said Panza. "My employer warned me
that, should I attempt to betray him, he would simply deny every word I
might say; and who would take the word of a suspected contrabandista
against that of a--well, a Spaniard of high position? It is true that
the judge might shrewdly suspect that there was a considerable amount of
truth in my story; but he would be very careful to conceal any such
suspicion, I assure you."

"It thus appears that your employer has taken the utmost care to shield
himself behind you, and leave you to bear the brunt of whatever may
befall," exclaimed Carlos. "But you have not replied to my question
yet. I asked you whether, in the event of Senor Singleton permitting
you to go free and unpunished, you would swear never again to lift your
hand against him; and also to disclose the name of your employer. As a
matter of fact, I know it already; but it would of course be more
satisfactory to have an explicit statement from you."

"If you know the man, as you say, Senor, you will also know that it will
not be of the slightest use to charge him with complicity in this,"
answered Panza.

"Possibly not," agreed Carlos. "Yet it would enable us to give Senor
Alvaros a hint that his machinations are known, and that henceforth we
shall be on our guar