"My wife lives in the town and I have been at home for a day or two," said the man. "I am going back to the schooner now and was told you had a letter for the patron."
Kit put his hand in his pocket. Although he had expected the mayor-domo would come for the message, there was not much formality at the presidio, and the fellow was obviously a sailor. Yet Kit hesitated and as he stood with his hand on the envelope thought the other's eyelids flickered. The flicker was almost too slight to notice, but it hinted at nervousness and Kit dropped the message back.
"Very well," he said. "Wait a few minutes."
He went along the arcade and stopping near the end looked back. The sailor had sat down on a bench and was lighting a cigarette. This looked as if he did not mind waiting, and Kit wondered whether it was worth while to disturb the president, who was occupied. He went on, however, and Alvarez signed him to sit down when he entered his room. After a minute or two, he put down the document he was reading to his secretary.
"Well," he said, "have you written your message for Captain Mayne?"
"It is here. The _Catalina's_ mate is waiting."
Alvarez turned to the secretary. "My order was that the _patron_ should come."
"The man told me his wife lived in the town and he was starting back," Kit interposed.
"The _patron_ has a house here," Alvarez replied. "We will see the man. But first send an order to the guard to let nobody go out."
He waited for a minute after the secretary went off and then beckoned Kit, who followed him downstairs and into the arcade. When they reached it Kit stopped and Alvarez turned to him with a meaning smile. There was nobody on the bench.
"It looks as if my order was sent too late," Alvarez remarked. "You had better tell me exactly what happened?"
Kit complied and Alvarez sent for the guard and asked: "How did you know the sailor was the _Catalina's_ mate?"
"He told me he was, señor. Afterwards, when Don Cristoval did not come back, he said it was not important and he would not wait."
Alvarez dismissed the man and shrugged as he turned to Kit. "The plotters are clever, but they made a mistake. The fellow was too modest; he ought to have said he was the _patron_. Well, we must try to find him, although I expect we are late. Now give me the message for Captain Mayne. It looks as if our antagonists knew its importance."