"Have you ever seen him kill a Spaniard?" asked General Pando.

Ridge was obliged to admit that he had not.

"Then how do you know that he has done so?"

"From his own boastful confession. He claims to have taken the life of
a Spanish soldier for every day of the last year."

The General smiled. "That is certainly a very boastful claim," he
said, "but one not to be believed for a moment. Think you, sir, that
such a number of Spaniards could be killed without my knowledge? or
that, in any case, one man could thus overcome the brave, experienced,
and well-armed soldiers of Spain? Your credulity, señor, is
refreshing. Also I have no hesitation in telling you that ever since I
took command of the eastern diocese, this man, recommended to me by my
predecessor in office, has been the most faithful and valuable of my
secret agents among the Cubans. Time and again he has furnished early
information of important events which has subsequently proved correct
in every detail. With such a record in his favor, am I now to doubt
him upon the mere word of a stranger? No, señor, the honor of a
Spaniard forbids. I am obliged, therefore--"

Just here came an interruption of voices at the door. Hearing them,
del Concha, who had remained silent during the foregoing conversation
and apparently careless of what was said concerning him, uttered a few
hurried words to the General in a low tone, and disappeared behind a
screen that stood close at hand. Directly afterwards a lieutenant and
two soldiers entered with a prisoner, whom Ridge recognized as one of