"In that case, though, allow me a remark which may appear to you indiscreet."
"Speak, speak, Caballeros, we are talking as friends, so have no chance of offence."
"You are right. If you are so uncomfortable here, why the deuce do you remain?"
"Why, where would you have me go?"
"Well, I do not know, but you would be better off anywhere than here."
"Ah! if it only depended on me," he said, with a sigh.
"Have you anybody with you here?"
"No, I am alone."
"Well, what prevents you going then?"
"Eh, Caramba, the money! All I possessed, and that was not much, was spent in building this house, and installing myself, and I could not have managed it had it not been for the peons."