He knew much of Francisco Alvarez, and he surmised more.
"I have heard of you," said the Governor General to the five, and his
tones became judicial and severe, as became the ruler of a million square
miles of fertile territory belonging to His Most Catholic Majesty, the
King of Spain. "You are the subject of formal complaint made by the
captain of our forces in the North, Don Francisco Alvarez."
It was now Paul, the scholar, youth of imagination, and future statesman,
who responded and it seemed fitting to all that he should do so.
"Will Your Excellency state the complaint against us?" he asked in a grave
and manly way.
"I will leave it to Don Francisco to state it," replied Bernardo Galvez.
"I expected that you would be here this morning, so I have chosen to
confront you with him. Each side shall tell its story."
This seemed fair, and the five, who had been waved to seats by a great
window with Mr. Pollock, made no protest. There they sat in silence for a
few minutes, while the Governor General dictated to a secretary who sat at
a little table by his side and who wrote with a goose-quill.
The wide door was at length thrown open again, and the usher announced Don
Francisco and his aide, Senor Braxton Wyatt.
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