Give me now, that I
may publish everywhere, your official assurance that this man will
be shot, and on my side I assure you that Principal Souza, thus
deprived of his stoutest weapon, must succumb in the struggle that
awaits us."
"I hope," said O'Moy slowly, his head bowed, his voice dull and
even unsteady, "I hope that I am not behind you in placing public
duty above private consideration. You may publish my official
assurance that the officer in question will be . . . shot when
taken."
"General, I thank you. My country thanks you. You may be confident
of this issue." He bowed gravely to O'Moy and then to Tremayne.
"Your Excellencies, I have the honour to wish you good-day." He was
shown out by the orderly who had admitted him, and he departed well
satisfied in his patriotic heart that the crisis which he had always
known to be inevitable should have been reached at last. Yet, as
he went, he wondered why the Adjutant-General had looked so downcast,
why his voice had broken when he pledged his word that justice should
be done upon the offending British officer. That, however, was no
concern of Dom Miguel's, and there was more than enough to engage
his thoughts when he came to consider the ultimatum to his Government
with which he was charged.
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