"You have had your report, sir, and surely it was complete. You
must know that he conceived himself to be knocking at the gates
of the monastery of the Dominican fathers."
"Can your Excellency tell me what was this officer's business at the
monastery of the Dominican fathers?" quoth the Secretary, his manner
frostily hostile.
"I am without information on that point," O'Moy admitted; "no doubt
because the officer in question is missing, as you will also have
been informed. But I have no reason to doubt that, whatever his
business may have been, it was concerned with the interests which
are common alike to the British and the Portuguese nation."
"That is a charitable assumption, Sir Terence."
"Perhaps you will inform me, Dom Miguel, of the uncharitable
assumption which the Principal Souza prefers," snapped O'Moy,
whose temper began to simmer.
A faint colour kindled in the cheeks of the Portuguese minister, but
is manner remained unruffled.
"I speak, sir, not with the voice of Principal Souza, but with that
of the entire Council of Regency; and the Council has formed the
opinion, which your own words confirm, that his Excellency Lord
Wellington is skilled in finding excuses for the misdemeanours of
the troops under his command.
Pages:
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66