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 know, has been put out of his place by the governor."

"Verdugo out?" Felipe exclaimed in incredulous surprise. "Who told you this, Cecilia?"

"One of the soldiers, Don Felipe. There is nothing a soldier will not tell me if I can speak a little while with him. My husband was a soldier in his day."

"Then Colonel Ybarra is in command. He is worse, Gabriel, far worse, than the other."

"Is it possible you have heard nothing of this big news?" Cecilia asked, in vast surprise. "I thought they must know at Monterey by now that Roberto has been made general by the governor."

"Roberto! What general, even of forty men!"

Henderson was almost amused, in spite of Helena Sprague's uncertain situation in the hands of this vengeful youth.

"He is a military man; he held the rank of colonel," Felipe explained, no amusement in the matter of Roberto's elevation apparent to him.

"There is a cannon," said Cecilia gravely. "I have heard it will shoot through the wall of a church."

"It is an admirable arrangement they have made of it," Felipe said. "Don Abrahan must have given up all his share in the division of Helena's estate to the governor. He could afford it, having the civil and military power now in his hands."

"There is justice to be thankful for in one quar-