) This was
doubtless his honest conviction, when on the pot soon after the
event occurred. The politic historian thought it prudent to
qualify his remark before publication. - "They say," says another
contemporary, familiar with these events and friendly to the
viceroy, "that he gave him several wounds with his dagger." And
he makes no attempt to refute the charge. (Relacion de los
Sucesos del Peru, Ms.) Indeed, this version of the story seems to
have been generally received at the time by those who had the
best means of knowing the truth.]
Greatly alarmed for the consequences of his rash act, - for
Carbajal was much beloved in Lima, - Blasco Nunez ordered the
corpse of the murdered man to be removed by a private stairway
from the house, and carried to the cathedral, where, rolled in
his bloody cloak, it was laid in a grave hastily dug to receive
it. So tragic a proceeding, known to so many witnesses, could
not long be kept secret. Vague rumors of the fact explained the
mysterious disappearance of Carbajal. The grave was opened, and
the mangled remains of the slaughtered cavalier established the
guilt of the viceroy. *15
[Footnote 15: Zarate, Conq. del Peru, ubi supra.]
From this hour Blasco Nunez was held in universal abhorrence; and
his crime, in this instance, assumed the deeper dye of
ingratitude, since the deceased was known to have had the
greatest influence in reconciling the citizens early to his
government. No one knew where the blow would fall next, or how
soon he might himself become the victim of the ungovernable
passions of the viceroy.
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