Morning dawned.  The sun swung up through a terrace of rosy clouds, and Luiz brought the four their breakfast, callas tous chauds, other food of La Louisiane, and milk and coffee.  They ate and drank with a great appetite, and it seemed to Luiz that they were quite cheerful, for which he was truly glad, because one of these men had saved his life, and the wounded youth who made an especial appeal to him had been subjected to barbarous treatment.  But Paul could use his injured arm already.  His blood was so healthy that the scratch of the sword healed fast.

Two or three hours later Francisco Alvarez and Braxton Wyatt entered the prison.  The renegade was not above showing by his looks that he rejoiced in his triumph over his enemies, but the face of Alvarez was without expression.

“I have come to tell you,” said the Spaniard, “that you will be held here subject to my will.  But you will not be treated badly.  At such time as I think fit you may be taken to New Orleans.”

“It seems that the words of Father Montigny were not to be despised,” said Henry maliciously.

“Father Montigny disposes of nothing here,” said Alvarez.  “This is to be done because I think it best.”

Then he and Wyatt went out, but that afternoon when Alvarez was sitting in the cool shadow of the pillared portico, there came to him a man, dusty, and riding fast, who delivered to him a document sealed with red seals, and important in appearance.

When Alvarez read the paper he frowned, and then cursed under his breath.  It was written in plain letters and its meaning was plain, also.  It stated that Bernardo Galvez, the Governor General at New Orleans, had learned that his brave and loyal captain, Don Francisco Louis Philip Ferdinand Alvarez, held in his possession four prisoners from Kaintock, persons of daring, whose presence in Louisiana might be of great significance.  Therefore His Excellency, Bernardo Galvez, Governor General of Louisiana, commanded his trusty and loyal captain, Don Francisco Louis Philip Ferdinand Alvarez, to bring the aforesaid four prisoners, from Kaintock, to New Orleans at once.

“At once!” repeated Alvarez angrily to himself.  “That means not next week but now, and I am compelled to obey.  To refuse or to evade would make a breach too soon.”

He sent for Braxton Wyatt and told him of the letter.  The renegade was startled, but he counseled immediate obedience from motives of policy.

“How could Galvez have known?” said Alvarez.  “How could the news have reached New Orleans so soon?”

“Perhaps the priest has told,” suggested Wyatt.

“No, that is impossible.  He came from up river, and I am glad to say that he left again in his canoe this morning.  Those Capuchins to whom he belongs shall be well punished, if I gain the power in Louisiana.  They shall be expelled, every one of them, from New Orleans, and their old rivals, the Jesuits, shall take their place.  It’s one of the first things that I mean to do.”