"I thank you," the hunter replied, with a bow.
"As for me," the Mexican continued, "my name is José Paredes, and I am majordomo to the Marquis de Moguer."
"What!" Stronghand said, with a surprise he did not try to conceal; "you are majordomo at the Hacienda del Toro?"
"Yes, what do you find surprising in that?"
"The man whom his master sent two days ago to Hermosillo, to receive cash for heavy bills drawn on an English banker?"
"How do you know that?" Paredes exclaimed, in his turn overwhelmed with surprise.
"What matter, so long as I know it?" the hunter replied. "Believe me," he added, with an accent that caused the majordomo deep reflection, "our meeting is truly providential, and Heaven led us toward each other."
"That is strange," Paredes muttered; "how is it possible that a secret which my master confided to me alone should be in your possession?"
The hunter smiled. "A secret known to three persons," he said, "does not long remain a secret."
"But that third person, to whom you refer, has no right to divulge it."