One of the magistrate's servants came to open it; his master would
see no one.
In spite of this denial, Fragoso pushed back the man who guarded the
entrance, and with a bound threw himself into the judge's study.
"I come from the province where Torres pursued his calling as captain
of the woods!" he gasped. "Mr. Judge, Torres told the truth.
Stop--stop the execution?"
"You found the gang?"
"Yes."
"And you have brought me the cipher of the document?"
Fragoso did not reply.
"Come, leave me alone! leave me alone!" shouted Jarriquez, and, a
prey to an outburst of rage, he grasped the document to tear it to
atoms.
Fragoso seized his hands and stopped him. "The truth is there!" he
said.
"I know," answered Jarriquez; "but it is a truth which will never see
the light!"
"It will appear--it must! it must!"
"Once more, have you the cipher?"
"No," replied Fragoso; "but, I repeat, Torres has not lied. One of
his companions, with whom he was very intimate, died a few months
ago, and there can be no doubt but that this man gave him the
document he came to sell to Joam Dacosta.
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