“Even so, mother, dear, he couldn’t match old Pedro. Antonio sat forward, so, with a careless sort of slouch––just like the ‘spook’ had.”
“What could possibly be his motive for such foolishness, daughter, granting you are right?”
The captain laughed.
“Upon my word, mother, even you, as well as Ephraim, seem sorry it isn’t a truly ghost, after all.”
“No, no, indeed. I’m sorry, rather, to think it may be Antonio, as you fancy, and that he still persists in troubling us, even by so silly a disguise.”
“It hasn’t been so silly, Mrs. Trent, if it has hoodwinked a lot of sensible people, and you are right––there must be a motive for it in the actor’s mind. I hope Jessica’s judgment in the case is correct, for back there in Los Angeles, we didn’t find the manager a difficult person to deal with,” remarked Mr. Sharp.
The girl went on:
“Then that horse. Don’t you remember, mother, and you, Ephraim, the curious little switch Nero used to give his tail whenever he was turned around? Well, this ‘spook’ horse did just the same thing. Oh, I know, I know I’m right!”
“But how could he turn a black horse snow white, even if you are? As I remember Nero he wouldn’t stand much nonsense, even from his own master,” said “Forty-niner.”