Unfortunately for the two prisoners impatiently awaiting a decision, Philip V took two years to act, and it was not until December 19, 1721, that he finally ordered Juan Felix Garcia Chicano, a Havana auditor, to go to Florida to investigate the Pedroso-Ayala litigation. Today a brief sojourn in sunny Florida might prove exceedingly attractive to an office-bound bureaucrat, but for the 18th century Spanish colonial administrator, service in Saint Augustine was closely akin to service in hell. Chicano dreaded the assignment and hoped to avoid it. In his reply to the king, he asked to be relieved of his task, arguing that Benavides must be replaced before he could carry on any impartial investigation. No residents of Florida, the stated, would testify truthfully about the Ayala-Pedroso case because of fear of reprisals by the governor. [Note: Chicano to king 6/30/1722] It was not long before Chicano received a strong reply. Irked by the Cuban auditor’s attempt to avoid his responsibilities, the king ordered Chicano to go to Florida “without making any further excuses whatsoever.” The cedula of December 19, 1721, required the auditor to investigate the Ayala-Pedroso case, and as king, Philip V meant to have such commands carried out. [Note: king to Chicano 2/17/1724] In any case the king’s order evoked a meek reply from Chicano, who promised faithfully to make the voyage to Saint Augustine. [Note: Chicano to king 7/22/1725] (Tepaske GSF)