He stood up, his cheeks flushing and his eyes alight, as they always were when he was deeply moved.
"It is true," he said, "that we took a boat belonging to Captain Alvarez, but it was because he forced us to do it.

It is he who first made war upon Kentucky, not we upon Spain.

I went into his camp upon a peaceful mission.
He seized and held me a prisoner.

I was rescued by my comrades, although they inflicted no harm upon any of the men of Captain Alvarez.

He has sought in every way to destroy us, and because he was the beginner of violence and because he is planning a great treason and war upon Kentucky, we took his boat and have come to New Orleans for the sole purpose of appearing before you." Alvarez burst into a sneering laugh and Braxton Wyatt, as a matter of course, imitated him, but Bernardo Galvez asked in a grave tone: "What do you mean by a great treason?
No, Don Francisco, wait! Let him speak! It is their right." "I mean," said Paul boldly, "that he expects to become Governor General of Louisiana in your place.