“Now, sir, the object of this note is to demand of you to lay aside the station you hold, and to forget our relative ranks as officers in the Spanish army, and to meet me on the platform of our individual characters as gentlemen, and render me that satisfaction for the insult which you have placed upon me, which I have a right to demand.  A line from you and a friend can easily settle this business.  Lorenzo Bezan.”

This note was carefully sealed and addressed, and so despatched as to reach its destination early on the following morning.  It was a most unfortunate epistle for Captain Bezan, and could the young officer have calmly considered the subject, he would never have been so imprudent as to send it to his superior.  So long as he bore the petty annoyances of General Harero without murmuring he was strong, that the step he had now taken greatly weakened his cause and position.  Perhaps he partly realized this as he sent the note away on the subsequent morning; but he felt too much pride to relent, and so only braced himself to meet the result.

The note gave General Harero what he wanted, and placed Captain Bezan completely at his mercy.  It gave him the opportunity to do that which he most desired, viz., to arrest and imprison the young officer.  Consulting with the governor general, merely by way of strengthening himself, he took his opinion upon the subject before he made any open movement in the premises.  This was a wary step, and served in some degree to rob the case of any appearance of personality that it might otherwise have worn to Tacon’s eye.

As it was, the wary old soldier felt some degree of suspicion in the matter, as was evident by his remarks to the general, who brought the charge.  It did not seem very natural that one who had just experienced such favor and promotion should so early be guilty of at breach of discipline.  He was accustomed to judge of men and matters with care, and judiciously, and for this reason he now rested his head upon his hand for a moment, upon the table by his side, and after a pause of some minutes thus passed in silence, during which he had considered the verbal charge brought against Lorenzo Bezan by his commanding officer, he once more cast a searching glance upon General Harero.  He had never detected him in any small or unfair business, but he had suspected him of being capable of such things.

“Is this not the young man whom I have lately promoted for gallantry?” asked the governor-general.

“Excellency, yes.”

“It is strange that he should be guilty of such insubordination.”

“Very strange, excellency.”

“You know not the reason that has induced this conduct?”

“No—­that is—­” continued General Harero, as he saw Tacon’s piercing eye bent upon him, “I can easily presume.”

“Have you the letter of challenge that Captain Bezan sent?”

“Excellency, yes.”