"You refused it? Oho! That tale is rather too good for me, gentlemen."
"It is, nevertheless, strictly true."
"Well, you doubtless had a motive for so acting?"
"Yes; this was it. On receiving Don Emile's money we engaged on our honour, according to the treaty we had with him, not to endeavour to do him any injury for the course of a month."
"¡Caspita! That is certainly serious. And you had the courage to refuse?"
"Not to betray our consciences, and to preserve our liberty of action, yes, señor!"
"We are caballeros," added Sacatripas, "and you know, señor, for a caballero, honour is everything."
"¡Caspita! I know it," cried Don Pablo, bowing with an ironical smile, which, thanks to the increasing darkness, passed unperceived by the gaucho. "Do you know, caballeros, the more I reflect, the more I think your action was magnificent."
"We have only done our duty," modestly answered Mataseis.
"That is true; but how many others in your position would have pocketed the ounces!"