Part 28 (2/2)
He called after thetoward the house
”Never mind, reverend Father,” protested Kearney; ”content yourself with a cigar, Cris, and don't give trouble”
”I'hter be only too gled to git a seegar, an' it may be he wudn't mind my chawin', stead o'
smokin' it! My staie jest now for a plug o' Jeears and eat it if you like; I' himself of the leave thus vicariously accorded the Texan picked out one of the largest in the collection, and, biting off about a third, coh it was a piece of sugar-stick This to the no small amusement of the Mexican, who, however, delicately refrained fro a s with a pipe, a soions of the establishment
Meanwhile their host had hi away like a chiht at any tiar in his mouth But that the Abbot of the Cerro Ajusco was no anchorite they were already aware, and saw nothing in it to surprise the himself beside Kearney, with face turned towards the valley, he put the question--
”What do you think of that landscape, Don Florencio?”
”Magnificent! I can't recall having looked upon lovelier, or one with greater variety of scenic detail It has all the ele Irishe classics with his country a sive you a better view of things”
Taking the glass and adjusting it to his sight, Kearney co one portion of it within the field of telescopic vision, then another
”Can you see the Pedregal?” asked the Abbot ”It's close in to the rey colour”
”Certainly I see it,” answered the other, after depressing the telescope ”And the thicket we cah on its further side--quite distinctly”
”Look to the right of that, then you'll observe a large house, standing in the ht it?”
”Yes; why do you ask?”
”Because that house has an interest for s to; or I should rather say did, and ought to belong to?”
”How should I know, holy father?” asked Kearney, thinking it soated ”True,” responded the Abbot; ”how could you, ht, though by wrong 'tis now the property of our late host, the Governor of the Acordada His reward at the last confiscation for basely betraying his country and our cause”
”What cause?” inquired the young Irishat
Country and cause! These were not the words likely to be on the lips of either hwayman
And that the man who had spoken to him was neither one nor other he had fuller proof in as now further said
”A cause, Senor Irlandes, for which I, Ruperto Rivas, am ready to lay down life, if the sacrifice be called for, and so most--I may say all-- of those you've just met at _almuerzo_ You heard it proclairand noble sentiratified to hear”
”And surprised as well Is not that so, _ao_?”