“What will he do, do you think, Colonel?”

“He will endeavour, by every means in his power, to prevent any word of your discovery from leaking out.  And, if I may advise you, I should say it would be well that you should take every precaution for your own safety.  His position is a desperate one, for one cannot doubt that your report will be followed by his removal from his post, his dismissal from the army, and the confiscation of everything of which he is possessed.  Therefore, it is almost a matter of life and death to him to prevent your report from being sent to headquarters, and to have you removed altogether.  This done, the facts might not leak out.  It would be supposed, at Madrid, that you had been stabbed by some street ruffian.  And, although another officer might be sent down to report, it is by no means likely that he would go so rigorously into matters as you did, but would be contented merely to count barrels and bales, without troubling to investigate their contents.”

“But your evidence would be as strong against him as mine.”

“Yes; but that evidence is not yet given.  He can, in the first place, and I have no doubt will, suppress my report to him.  In the second place, he would consider it unlikely that I should venture to make the matter public, for he has powerful friends at court.  He is connected with many of the leading families in the province, and might rely upon being able to hush the matter up, so long as it was known only to the heads of our army, who are not unaware that, although the pay of a commander of a fortress is not more than sufficient to maintain his position, they, like most other of our officials, generally retire with considerable fortunes.  Therefore, any interference on my part would be more disastrous to my prospects than to his.

“It is humiliating to say so, Major Kennedy, but both our civil and military systems are rotten to the core.  There are, of course, honest men in both services, but as a rule corruption is almost universal.  Still, although he cannot fear me as he must fear you, it is possible he may endeavour to make himself safe by removing me also from his path; and for a time I shall take good care to remain in my own barracks, as much as possible.”

“I will be careful also,” Desmond said, “and I thank you much for the warning, which was needed, for it would never have struck me that he would even attempt to suppress the information that I have gained; but I see that it will be necessary to be very careful, especially in the manner of sending off my reports.”

“If I were in your place, I should mount my horse at once, and with the troopers of the escort ride straight for Madrid.”

“I cannot do that, Colonel, for the examination into the state of the stores here was only a part of my instructions, and I must, if possible, carry these out to the letter before leaving for Madrid.  I might, however, send off my despatch by two of the troopers with me.”