The young man rose to his feet with a bitter laugh.

“You see,” he said, “God is against me!  And yet a few hours ago I dared to think that He had guided me to a haven of rest and forgetfulness!

“Have you told the truth to him and to me?” said the priest sternly, “or have you—­a mere political refugee—­taken advantage of an old man’s weakness to forge a foolish lie of sentimental passion?”

“What do you mean?” said Hurlstone, turning upon him almost fiercely.

The priest rose, and drawing a folded paper from his bosom, opened it before the eyes of his indignant guest.

“Remember what you told me last night in the sacred confidences of yonder holy church, and hear what you really are from the lips of the Council of Todos Santos.”

Smoothing out the paper, he read slowly as follows:—­

“Whereas, it being presented to an Emergency Council, held at the Presidio of Todos Santos, that the foreign barque Excelsior had mutinied, discharged her captain and passengers, and escaped from the waters of the bay, it was, on examination, found and decreed that the said barque was a vessel primarily owned by a foreign Power, then and there confessed and admitted to be at war with Mexico and equipped to invade one of her northern provinces.  But that the God of Liberty and Justice awakening in the breasts of certain patriots—­to wit, the heroic Senor Diego Hurlstone and the invincible Dona Leonor—­the courage and discretion to resist the tyranny and injustice of their oppressors, caused them to mutiny and abandon the vessel rather than become accomplices, in the company of certain neutral and non-combatant traders and artisans, severally known as Brace, Banks, Winslow, and Crosby; and certain aristocrats, known as Senoras Brimmer and Chubb.  In consideration thereof, it is decreed by the Council of Todos Santos that asylum, refuge, hospitality, protection, amity, and alliance be offered and extended to the patriots, Senor Diego Hurlstone, Dona Leonor, and a certain Duenna Susana Markham, particularly attached to Dona Leonor’s person; and that war, reprisal, banishment, and death be declared against Senor Perkins, his unknown aiders and abettors.  And that for the purposes of probation, and in the interests of clemency, provisional parole shall be extended to the alleged neutrals—­Brace, Banks, Crosby, and Winslow—­within the limits and boundaries of the lazaretto of San Antonio, until their neutrality shall be established, and pending the further pleasure of the Council.  And it is further decreed and declared that one Capitano Bunker, formerly of the Excelsior, but now a maniac and lunatic—­being irresponsible and visited of God, shall be exempted from the ordinances of this decree until his reason shall be restored; and during that interval subjected to the ordinary remedial and beneficent restraint of civilization and humanity.  By order of the Council,—­

“The signatures and rubrics of—­