"What was the proposition that
Torres made to my father during the short interview which preceded
his expulsion?"
"He threatened to denounce Joam Garral as being Joam Dacosta, if he
declined to purchase his silence."
"And at what price?"
"At the price of his daughter's hand!" answered Manoel
unhesitatingly, but pale with anger.
"The scoundrel dared to do that!" exclaimed Benito.
"To this infamous request, Benito, you saw the reply that your father
gave."
"Yes, Manoel, yes! The indignant reply of an honest man. He kicked
Torres off the raft. But it is not enough to have kicked him out. No!
That will not do for me. It was on Torres' information that they came
here and arrested my father; is not that so?"
"Yes, on his denunciation."
"Very well," continued Benito, shaking his fist toward the left bank
of the river, "I must find out Torres. I must know how he became
master of the secret. He must tell me if he knows the real author of
this crime. He shall speak out. And if he does not speak out, I know
what I shall have to do.
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