“I hardly thought to find you here, señorita,” he said.
“And I did not fancy I should meet you here, señor,” she returned, with a faint smile. “I came to express my thanks to the brave young American.”
“Very good. I came to express my admiration of his skill, and to make him a business proposition.”
Frank pricked up his ears. Just what did the man mean?
“Will you be seated, señor?” and the lad motioned toward a chair.
“Señorita Zuera is standing,” said the little Spaniard, with a polite bow. “I thank you.”
“I am going, Señor Rodriguez,” assured the girl.
“Not because I have come. Wait, señorita. You saw it all. My business with Señor Merriwell is not of a private nature, and I should prefer that you were present when I make him the proposal. Will you sit down and wait?”
She hesitated, and then, seeing that he really meant it, returned to a chair and sat down.
Ephraim Gallup, who did not understand Spanish, was bewildered. He wondered what it meant. He had prepared to fight when Rodriguez appeared, and he seemed somewhat disappointed now that there seemed no prospect of an encounter.