lord! Does not expediency govern politicians?"

"I am not a politician."

"But a wise soldier, my lord, does not lose sight of the political
consequences of his acts." And he sat down again.

"Your Excellency may be right," said his lordship. "Let us be
quite clear, then. You suggest, speaking in the name of the Council
of Regency, that I should suppress all further investigations into
the manner in which Count Samoval met his death, so as to save his
family the shame and the Council of Regency the discredit which must
overtake one and the other if the facts are disclosed - as disclosed
they would be that Samoval was a traitor and a spy in the pay of the
French. That is what you ask me to do. In return your Council
undertakes that there shall be no further opposition to my plans for
the military defence of Portugal, and that all my measures however
harsh and however heavily they may weigh upon the landowners, shall
be punctually and faithfully carried out. That is your Excellency's
proposal, is it not?"

"Not so much my proposal, my lord, as my most earnest intercession.
We desire to spare the innocent the consequences of the sins of a
man who is dead, and well dead." He turned to O'Moy, standing there
tense and anxious. It was not for Dom Miguel to know that it was
the adjutant's fate that was being decided. "Sir Terence," he cried,
"you have been here for a year, and all matters connected with the
Council have been treated through you. You cannot fail to see the
wisdom of my recommendation."