"I am now a diplomat. First Counselor of the Mexican Embassy in San Hermano and guest professor of literature at the University."
Hall and Duarte had last met in Spain, where Duarte had served as a Lieutenant-Colonel with the regular Spanish People's Army. "Coronel Pancho Villa" was the name his men gave him, and the thin, gangling Mexican scholar had fought like a terror to live up to this name. Of Duarte, the General Staff officers said that he was as bad a strategist as he was brave a man, which would have made him one of the worst strategists in military history. But during the Ebro retreat, Duarte had taught the veteran professional officers a few things about the tactics of guerrilla warfare which raised his standing as a soldier.
Duarte took Margaret Skidmore's hand and raised it to his lips. "Enchanté," he sighed, and she knew at once that he was laughing at her.
"Señor Ambassador," Duarte said, speaking rapid Spanish, "this is one of the most magnificent parties I have ever attended. How do you manage to give such splendid parties with only your chit of a daughter to help you shove food down the ulcerous throats of these sons of whore mothers, dear Señor Ambassador? It is stupendous. It is colossal."
The Ambassador smiled, shook Duarte's hand, and bowing slightly, he murmured, "Con mucho gusto." Then, still smiling, he turned and walked away.
"Don't let this guy fool you," Hall said to the Ambassador's daughter. "He speaks English as well as we do."
"Better," Duarte said. "Ah learned mah English in Texas, Ah'll have yo'all know, suh. And Mateo, don't let Margaret's innocent smile fool you. She knows almost enough Spanish to know what I just told her distinguished papa."
"Some day I'm going to know enough," Margaret laughed. "And when I do, you're going to get your face slapped in front of everyone, I'm afraid. Tell me, Mateo, does hijos de la gran puta mean what I think it does?"
"That sounds like slang to me," Hall said. "I learned my Spanish on the Linguaphone."
"You're a fast boy, Matt," she said. "Call me Margaret, if you wish." She straightened Hall's tie with a perfumed glove. "I'll give you a little time with Felipe, and then I'll steal you back. There are many people here tonight who want to meet you."