It would be supposed, at Madrid, that you had been stabbed by some street ruffian.

And, although another officer might be sent down to report, it is by no means likely that he would go so rigorously into matters as you did, but would be contented merely to count barrels and bales, without troubling to investigate their contents." "But your evidence would be as strong against him as mine." "Yes; but that evidence is not yet given.

He can, in the first place, and I have no doubt will, suppress my report to him.

In the second place, he would consider it unlikely that I should venture to make the matter public, for he has powerful friends at court.
He is connected with many of the leading families in the province, and might rely upon being able to hush the matter up, so long as it was known only to the heads of our army, who are not unaware that, although the pay of a commander of a fortress is not more than sufficient to maintain his position, they, like most other of our officials, generally retire with considerable fortunes.
Therefore, any interference on my part would be more disastrous to my prospects than to his.
"It is humiliating to say so, Major Kennedy, but both our civil and military systems are rotten to the core.

There are, of course, honest men in both services, but as a rule corruption is almost universal.