All these thoughts and a hundred other conjectures rushed into my mind as I sat fiddling with the bits of lace and making sham jottings in a pocket-book. And I resolved to take the risk.
Catching one of them looking at a bit of the lace I smiled and, holding it towards him, said casually--
He took hold of it gingerly and nodded with a laugh, as if to humour me.
"Very, senor; but I don't know anything about it; and don't want any."
"I'm not offering to sell it you. But anyone can tell good lace, I should think. That's a bit of a kind--fit for a King's ransom;" and I looked him straight in the eyes. It was a somewhat daring move, but I wanted them both to look well at me with the thought of the King in their minds; and so that I could be quite positive that they did not know me. They both grunted, and one of them swore softly under his breath; but no look of recognition came into his eyes.
"Thank you, I don't want any, senor," was the answer, shortly spoken, as though to close the conversation.
"Ah well, I suppose you've no King to ransom," I returned, and laughed pleasantly; but as the laugh ended, I looked again at him meaningly; and then surprise and question showed on his face.
"Do you travel in this?" he asked, sharply.
"Yes, my name's Hunter, David Hunter, of the great lace firm of Ross and Catter, of London. Here's my card;" and I handed him one; I said this for the benefit of the rest of the people in the carriage who were listening. "If you care about such things, I can find you something of interest."
"I don't, thank you, Senor Hunter. Odd time for such business, I should think," and he returned the card.
"Depends on the business, of course," said I, "and of course on the man. I'm going to Daroca; and expect to do a good stroke there," and while I was speaking, I wrote on the back of the card: "Counting all Renegades lovers of Satan. By the Grace of God;" and covering it with a piece of lace, I handed it to him again. "Now, there's something you might care to see."
The start he gave caused him to let his cigarette fall, and as he stooped down to recover it, he whispered for me to hear--
"By the Grace of God," and when he sat up his face was set like steel in his sudden excitement. He muttered a word to his companion and passed him the card. He in his turn was scarcely less excited.