"
"My business," said Pendleton, "is of a personal nature, that will
not interfere with any claim of yours that Mr. Briones may choose
to admit, but is of a private quality that must be transacted
between us now." His face was pale, and his voice, although steady
and self-controlled, had that same strange suggestion of sudden age
in it which Paul had before noticed. Whether Don Caesar detected
it, or whether he had some other instinctive appreciation of
greater security, Paul could not tell. He seemed to recover his
swagger again, as he said,--
"I shall hear what Colonel Pendleton has to say first. But I shall
hold myself in readiness to meet you afterwards--you shall not
fear, sir!"
Paul remained looking from the one to the other without speaking.
It was Don Caesar who returned his glance boldly and defiantly,
Colonel Pendleton who, with thin white fingers pulling his
moustache, evaded it. Then Paul unlocked the door, and said
slowly, "In five minutes I leave this house for the station. I
shall wait there until the train arrives. If this gentleman does
not join me, I shall be better able to understand all this and take
measures accordingly."
"And I tell to you, Meester Hathaway, sir," said Don Caesar,
striking an attitude in the doorway, "you shall do as I please--
Caramba!--and shall beg"--
"Hold your tongue, sir--or, by the Eternal!"--burst out Pendleton
suddenly, bringing down his thin hand on the Mexican's shoulder.
Pages:
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198