AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL
Sweetlips Kind returned to Desleigh with his head whirling. He could not quite understand Señora Guzman; and Herries, when the conversation was reported to him, likewise expressed his inability to comprehend. The two men talked the matter over earnestly, and tried to arrive at some conclusion, but the whole matter was so enigmatical that they could decide upon no course. Finally they concluded that, notwithstanding the danger of the neighbourhood to Herries, it would be best to wait for a few days, and see what action Donna Maria intended to take.
"There's nothing like waiting," said Sweetlips, "if this Spanish lady,--or rather this Mexican, as I believe she's a Creole,--if she has anything to do with the murder, it is on account of Captain Kyles, and should she think him false to her, which he certainly is, she will make trouble."
"Do you believe that she sent the sailors to kidnap Armour?" asked Herries, who was sorely puzzled, and could see no light.
"Of course she did, since she lied about the shawl. But they may have been sent to kidnap a political person who was menacing Sir Simon and made a mistake in collaring the policeman."
"But his uniform----"
"Pooh. The night was dark and foggy, Mr. Herries, and Armour wore a great coat, which did not look very official. Besides, these greasers--foreigners, remember--wouldn't know a policeman from a civilian, let alone the fact that they may have thought the political person might have disguised himself to get at his prey."
"Why do you say 'his prey?'"
"Because I am inclined to believe that the murder is a political one, after all. Sir Simon evidently was mixing himself up with the politics of the Indiana Republic to make money over the sale of ships. The man he expected was an emissary of the Republic, who got in at the window----"
"How would he know the particular window?"