Part 28 (1/2)
”Nor , howsomever, thet I hev obsarved air a leetle queery, an' sort o' in thar favour”
”What thing?”
”Thar not hevin' any wee 'em I war in the kitchen this n o' a petticoat about, the cookin' bein' all done by men sarvents Thet, I've heern say, air the i' monks; but not wi' the other sort What do you make o't, Cap?”
”I hardly know, Cris Possibly the Mexican brigands, unlike those of Italy, don't care to encu of the fair sex”
”On t'other hand,” pursued the Texan, ”it seeious sort, puttin' out sentries as they do Thar wor that one we passed last night, and this uns, one takin' each side, and soon arter two others comin' in as if they'd been jest relieved from thar posts Thar's a path as leads down froe, indeed,” said Kearney ”But no doubt we shall soon get explanation of it By the way,” he added, changing tone with the subject, ”where is the dwarf? What have they done with him?”
”That I can't tell eyther, Cap I haven't seen stime o' the critter since he war tuk away from us by that head man o' the sarvents, and I don't wish ever to set eyes on the skunk again Cris Rock niver was so tired o' a connexshun as wi' thet saot hiood reasons Ah! noe're likely to hear so about the disposal of ourselves Yonder comes the man who can tell us!”
This, as the _soi-disant_ Abbot was seen approaching along the path
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
THE ABBOT
”_A to Kearney, who could alone understand hiar--your cootten that you smoked
Here are both Havannahs and Manillas, several brands of each So choose for yourself”
The any case, had already placed it upon one of the rustic benches, and laid open the lid
”Thanks, holy father,” responded Kearney, with a peculiar smile ”If you have no objection, I'll stick to the I one of them a man need have no difficulty as to choice”
At which he took an ”Elad you like theht ”They ought to be of good quality, considering what they cost, and where they come from But, Don Florencio, don't let the question of expense hinder you s as many as you please My outlay on theh not exactly a charitable one”
He said this with a sort of inward laugh, as though soe history attached to the Iht the Irishe, and by no means pleasant impression upon hiars, and ith a gesture the invitation was extended to hi to Kearney--
”Tell him, Cap, I'd purfar a pipe ef he ked accomerdate me wi' thet 'ere article”
”What says the Senor Cristoforo?” asked the Abbot
”He'd prefer s convenient”
”Oh! _un pipa_ I shall see Gregorio!”