The ranchero obeyed, and several persons entered the inn.
"At last you have returned, my dear Valentine," the newcomer exclaimed in French, as he walked quickly towards the travellers, who, for their part, went to meet him.
"Thanks for your promptitude in responding to my invitation, my dear Rallier," the hunter answered.
The ranchero bit his lips on hearing them talk in a language he did not understand.
"Hum! they are Ingleses," he muttered spitefully. "I suspected they must be gringos."
It is a general rule with the lower class Mexicans that all foreigners are English, and consequently hunters or gringos.
"Come here, Ño Lusacho," Valentine said, addressing the landlord, who was turning his hat between his fingers with an air of considerable embarrassment, "I have to talk on important matters with these gentlemen, and as I do not wish to be disturbed by you, I propose that you should give me up this room for an hour."
"I understand, you expect to be paid. Very good, I will pay you, but on condition that no one, not even yourself, comes in till I call."
"Listen to me without interruption. Day will not break for two hours, so you will not open your rancho till then, and, consequently, you have no customers to expect. I will pay an ounce for each hour; will that suit you?"
"I should think so, your excellency; at that price I will sell you the whole day if you wish."
"That is not necessary," the hunter said, with a laugh; "but you understand I want fair play--no ears on the listen, or eyes at the slits of the panelling."
"I am ready to believe so; but I warn you, because in the event of my seeing an eye or an ear lap, I shall immediately fire a bullet at it as a recommendation to prudence, and I have the ill luck to be a dead shot. Does the bargain suit you with those conditions?"
"Perfectly, your excellency. I shall keep a strict watch over my people, so that you shall not be disturbed."
"You are a splendid landlord, and I predict that you will make a rapid fortune, for I see that you thoroughly understand your own interests."
"I try to satisfy the gentry who honour my poor abode with their presence."
"Excellently reasoned! Here are the two promised ounces, and four piastres in the bargain for the refreshments you are going to serve us. Have these gentlemen's horses taken to the corral, and have the goodness to leave us."