I am willing to spare a town if under your protection.

I know that you cannot pretend to defend it with the horse you have, which will be so much more useful in another place if joined with the troops of Arcos to obstruct my passing the plains of Valencia.
I am confident that you will soon quit Murviedro, which I can as little prevent as you can hinder me from taking the town.

The inhabitants there must be exposed to the most abject miseries, and I can in no way preserve it but by being bound in a capitulation, which I am willing to give you if I have the assurance of the immediate surrender of the place this very night.

Some cases are so apparent that I need not dissemble.
I know you will immediately send to the Duke of Arcos to march to the Carthusian convent and meet him there with the body of horse under your command." The earl further offered, in the same apparent spirit of frankness, to show Mahony all his troops and artillery, as well as the large resources he had upon the sea, which was only six miles off.

Mahony was entirely deceived by the manner of the man he regarded as a relative, and laughingly acknowledged that he had, in case of necessity, intended to fall back with his cavalry upon the Duke of Arcos.