Part 2 (1/2)
The girl's eyes flashed angrily
”Castillo is a fool! He pulls dohat others have carefully built up”
”Tries to fire the ested ”A premature explosion's apt to blow up the lance
”That is what nearly happened this afternoon I believe you are to be trusted, senores?”
Grahame bowed
”I am an adventurer, not a patriot, and ain with Don Martin and we keep our word”
”Then,” said the girl quietly, ”Castillo is hiding here”
”In the _casa Sarerous? Won't the President's friends suspect?”
”I think they do, but they are afraid of my father's hold on the people; and there is only a handful of troops When it is late they may make a search, but Castillo will leave soon It is possible that you are in sos interesting; I've never been in serious danger yet
But I suppose you have Don Martin's permission to be frank with us?”
”You are shrewd,” she answered, sment I spent the years that should have been happiest in poverty and loneliness Are you surprised that I'm a conspirator? If you value your safety, you will beware of erous to your enemies, but I believe you'd be very staunch to your friends”
”_Gracias, senor_ I'm sure I can at least hate well”
A irl's stout duenna, who had been sitting silent and apparently half asleep, rose and approached the table
”Don Martin is disengaged,” she said to Blanca; and when the girl waited ahad been left for her to decide
He did not see any sign exchanged, but he thought with some amusement that he and his companion had passed a test when the duenna said to them:
”Don Martin would speak with you”
Walthew turned to Blanca, saying in Castilian:
”Until our next irl rose with a grave curtsy and there was a touch of stateliness in her o in safety, senores! We expect much froh the house, they found their host and anotherby a dim lamp in a room with the shutters carefully closed Don Martin Sarmiento wore an alpaca jacket, a white shi+rt, and a black silk sash round the waist of his duck trousers He was dark-haired and sallow, lightly built and thin, but his expression was eager and his eyes were penetrating One could have iined that his fiery spirit had worn down the flesh
The other man was of coarser type His skin was very dark, his face hot and fleshy, and Grahalance was restless and he had a rather truculent air, though there was soht that while he ht show a rash boldness now and then, his nerve was not very good
”With your permission, I present my comrade, Senor Castillo,” said Don Martin ”Should any disaster overtake me, Senor Castillo, or another whom he appoints, will carry out our contract Our funds are in safe hands; the rifles will be paid for”