The landlord bowed with a grimacing smile, brought, with a speed far from common with people of his calling, the refreshments ordered, and gave the hunter a deep bow.
"Now," he said, "your excellency is in your own house, and no one shall enter without your orders."
While Valentine was making this bargain with the ranchero, his friends remained silent, laughing inwardly at the hunter's singular mode of proceeding, and the unanswerable arguments he employed to avoid an espionage almost always to be found in such places, when the master does not scruple to betray those who pay him best.
"Now," said Valentine, so soon as the door closed behind the landlord, "we shall talk at least in safety."
"Speak Spanish, my friend," said M. Rallier.
"Why so? It is so delightful to converse in one's own tongue, when, like me, you have so few opportunities for doing so. I assure you that Curumilla will not feel offended."
"Hum; I did not say this on behalf of the chief, whose friendship for you I am well acquainted with."
"For Don Martial, who has accompanied me, and has important matters to communicate to you."
"Oh, oh, that changes the question," said the hunter, at once substituting Spanish for the French he had hitherto employed. "Are you there, my dear Don Martial?"
"Yes, señor," the Tigrero answered, emerging from the gloom in which he had remained up to this moment, "and very happy to see you."
"Who else have you brought with you, Don Antonio?"
"Me, my friend," said a third person, as he let the folds of his cloak fall. "My brother thought that it would be better to have a companion, in the event of an alarm."
"Your brother was right, my dear Edward, and I thank him for the good idea, which procures me the pleasure of shaking your hand a few moments sooner. And now, señores, if you are agreeable, we will sit down and talk, for, if I am not mistaken, we have certain things to tell each other which are most important for us."
"That is true!" Antonio Rallier answered, as he sat down, in which he was immediately imitated by the rest.
"If you like," Valentine continued, "we will proceed in regular rotation; that is, I fancy, the way to finish more quickly, for you know that moments are precious."