I say this as much on account of one of your ancestors as on account of your father's enemies.

The continual changes, the corruption in the higher circles, the favoritism, the low cost and the shortness of the journey, are to blame for it all.

The worst characters of the Peninsula come here, and even if a good man does come, the country soon ruins him.

So it was that your father had a number of enemies among the curates and other Spaniards." Here he hesitated for a while.

"Some months after your departure the troubles with Padre Damaso began, but I am unable to explain the real cause of them.