"At least, his excellency, the governor, is not able to leave his house." "Ah! He is ill, then ?" "Ill in spirit, yes," smiled Senor Honda.
"Will you be good enough to explain ?" Montez asked, anxiously.
"Don Luis, it was I, Manuel Honda, who confined his excellency to his official dwelling and placed a guard about the buildings." "Oh?
Is there a revolution, then, in the state of Bonista ?" "None that I know of," Honda rejoined.

"Don Luis, I am from the national capital.

I represent the government of the Republic of Mexico, and I have considerable power in this state.

I am solely in command, at present, of all the national troops within this state.

These army officers will assure you that I hold a national commission to investigate affairs even in this remote state of Bonista.