And, laughing in his beard, he followed the footman, who was red with anger and shame at this haughty reprimand.
Mexican houses, except in the great cities, are ordinarily built but one story high; they are generally very slightly constructed, owing to the earthquakes, which are extremely frequent in intertropical countries, and destroy in a few seconds towns, and entirely ruin them. The result of this mode of building is that nearly all the apartments are on the ground floor; and then there are no staircases to ascend or descend, which, in our opinion, is very agreeable. The adventurer remarked with some degree of pleasure that the valet led him through several rooms before reaching the one in which the senator was sitting; at length he turned the handle of the door, threw it open, and stepped aside to let the bandit pass. The latter walked in boldly, like a man certain of a hearty reception.
"Ah!" said the senator, starting slightly at seeing him, "It is you."
"Yes," he replied, with a graceful bow.
"Retire," Don Rufino said to the valet; "I am not at home to anyone, and do not come in till I call you." The valet bowed, went out, and closed the door behind him. As if by common accord, the two stood silently listening till the valet's footsteps died away in the distance; then, without saying a word, Kidd threw open the folding doors.
"Why do you do that?" Don Rufino asked him.
"Because we have to talk about serious matters; the tapetes spread over the floors of your rooms deaden footsteps, and your servant has an excellent spy's face."
The senator made no remark; he doubtless recognised the correctness of his singular visitor's argument.
"It is you then, bandit," he said at last.
"I fancy I can notice that you did not expect me?"