Moreover,
an exceedingly strong faction here, one with great influence, is striving
continually to help England and to crush us."
"Alvarez!" exclaimed Henry and Paul together.
"Yes, Alvarez! We must not underrate his strength and cunning, but if he
is engaged in plotting, in actual treason, or what is very near it, your
coming may help us to prove it and thus strengthen the hand of Bernardo
Galvez, who is our friend."
"There is no doubt of the fact!" said Henry earnestly. "He is planning to
make himself Governor General in place of Galvez!"
"Ah, but to prove it! to prove it! You are strangers and foreigners, and
Alvarez is before you here. No, don't blame yourselves, you could not help
it. But he is the commander of the Spanish forces in Northern Louisiana.
He came, summoned urgently on the King's business, and he gained access to
Bernardo Galvez last night. Oh, he's a shrewd man, and a cunning one, and
we know not what plausible tale he may have poured out to the Governor
General. But come, the sentinel here wishes to know our business and I
shall go in with you, if I may."
"Of course," said Henry. "We thank you for your aid."
They saw in a moment how valuable this help could be as Mr. Pollock spoke
rapidly in Spanish to one of the sentinels, who seemed impressed, and who
quickly disappeared within the house.
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