“Money?” uttered Vasquez, becoming alert at once. “It is mine—mine by right!”
“You are mistaken,” replied Hal, coldly; “but if you need it you may have it. I have only three pesetas.”
“Three pesetas?” faltered the Spanish merchant. He looked as angry as a man who is being robbed, for three pesetas is but about sixty cents.
“You may have it,” rejoined Hal, with mock generosity, “if the officer permits me to present it to you.”
Then he threw his hands up while the captain went through his pockets.
That officer looked a trifle ashamed of his task, for an army officer is a gentleman, at least by education.
But Hal’s pockets, under the most rigid search, showed no more than he had mentioned.
“Off with your clothes, senor,” came the next command.
Hal looked and felt a trifle surprised, but saw that the order was a serious one.
“Shall I er—er—withdraw to the closet before disrobing?” he suggested.