I was thinking, sir, that--"
The Spaniard's eye flashed, but his answer came suavely as he
interrupted: "Don't you think you had better leave Senor Valdez
and me to arrange our own family affairs? We could not think of
troubling you to attend to them."
"He is a good lad and a brave."
Megales bowed. "Your recommendation goes a long way with me,
senor, and, in truth, I have known him only a small matter of
twenty years longer than you."
"Never a more loyal youngster in the land."
"You think so? A matter of definitions, one may suppose. Loyal to
the authorized government of his country, or to the rebels who
would illegally overthrow it?"
"Egad, you have me there, excellency. 'Tis a question of point of
view, I'm thinking. But you'll never tell me the lad pretended
one thing and did another. I'll never believe you like that
milksop Chaves better."
"Must I choose either a fool or a knave?"
"I doubt it will be no choice of yours. Juan Valdez is an ill man
to deny what he sets his heart on. If the lady is willing--"
"I shall give her to the knave and wash my hands of her. Since
treason thrives she may at last come back to the palace as its
mistress.
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