"Who gave you the right to doubt mine?" he exclaimed.
"Nothing has done so up to the present, hence I am not addressing myself to you, but speaking generally."
"So," L'Olonnais asked him, "you are the brother of Doña Clara de Bejar, the mistress of the hatto del Rincón?"
"Once again, yes, I am her brother."
"Good! And how will you prove it to me?"
The young man shrugged his shoulders.
"What do I care whether you believe me or not?" he said.
"That is possible, but it is of great consequence to me to be certain of the fact; I am entrusted with a letter for that lady, and wish to perform my commission properly."
"In that case hand me the letter, and I will deliver it myself."
"You found that out all by yourself," the engagé said mockingly, "a likely notion that I should give you the note on your demand," and he burst into a hearty laugh, in which Lepoletais joined.