“Must be rich, all right,” agreed Captain Cornell. “That car and the liveried chauffeur both spelled ready money.”
“Well,” said Mr. Hampton, “nothing for us to do then except to wait. We’ll hear from Don Ferdinand sooner or later. But I do hope he doesn’t endanger himself, if only for the sake of his daughter.” He looked sidelong at Jack, but the latter appeared elaborately unconscious of this mention of Rafaela. “Well,” sighed Mr. Hampton, then, “I hate to appear to be getting old, but this heat certainly makes me feel sleepy. Run along, you fellows, until time to go down into Nueva Laredo. I’m going to take a nap.”
CHAPTER IX.
THE BULL FIGHT.
“Better come with us, Temple.”
Face beaded with perspiration because of the steaming heat, Mr. Hampton stood by the bed on which his companion, partially disrobed, had thrown himself. The draught created by the electric fan blew across him. Mr. Temple shook his head.
“Not for a million dollars,” he said. “I’m fairly comfortable here, and I know I wouldn’t be so at the bull fight. Besides, you know what I think of bull fights.”
Mr. Hampton nodded. He was well aware that his friend frowned upon the proposed jaunt into Mexico that afternoon.
“I know,” he said. “But we can’t forbid the boys to go. They’re too old for that. Besides that’s not the way to inculcate principles, anyhow. Furthermore, you have the wrong idea of bull fights, in a way. To these Mexicans a bull fight is just the same as a baseball game to Americans. Remember, I know the Latin temperament.” He paused, looking down a moment, thoughtfully, at his companion. “The boys are young, Temple. When we were their age, the prospects of a bull fight would have appealed to us, too. Well”—turning with a resigned sigh toward the door—“it certainly doesn’t appeal to me, but I reckon I shall have to go along.”
And once more wiping his perspiring face, Mr. Hampton went out, closing the door behind him.
He found the three youths and Captain Cornell awaiting him in the steaming lobby, and all four went out and climbed into a waiting taxi, whence they proceeded toward the International Bridge.