Whether the terms of liberation before alluded to were ever proposed to the daughter of Abenhabuz, I cannot inform you, Don Carlos:--most probably not, however.--Don Guiterre doubtless overrated his influence with the Holy Tribunal,--the vast powers and inaccessible character of which were at that early period of its establishment not known even to Spaniards themselves. At all events, the governor, finding that the doom of his victim was irrevocably fixed, and--ignorant of the secret wishes of the Moor--fearing that the full weight of Abenhabuz's resentment would fall upon him on the discovery of the failure of their scheme,--resolved, ere the _Auto da fé_ was announced to take place, to prevent the possibility of the Moor's attempting to save his daughter, by confessing the plot, and making known the share he--Guiterre--had taken in it.
The wretch, who, in his dying moments, confessed these atrocities, was an accomplice in the crime by which this object was attained.--The foul deed committed, the corpse of Abenhabuz was destroyed by quick lime, and his papers were minutely examined, lest any proof should be furnished by them of the plot against Hinzára. Letters were then found from the sons of the murdered Moor, (who it appeared had joined the discontented inhabitants of the Alpujarras, at that time about to take up arms against the government,) which brought to light a project on the eve of being carried into execution, to seize upon the city of Ronda. These, after being made up in a sealed parcel, were dropt, by the governor's faithful agent, on the road to Marbella, and, being picked up by a chance traveller, were brought to Don Guiterre.
The importance of their contents caused them of course to be forwarded to the seat of government, accompanied by a statement, that diligent but unavailing search having been made for Abenhabuz, it was supposed he had escaped to the mountains, and must, in the hurry of his flight, have lost these papers, containing indubitable proofs of his treason.
The policy of keeping these events secret was suggested by the artful Guiterre, on the plea, that it might lead to the detection of other persons engaged in the conspiracy; which recommendation, having been approved of, it soon came to be believed that the missing Abenhabuz was, as well as his daughter, an inmate of the dungeon of the Inquisition.