"If that can give you any pleasure, I am willing to do so, Malco. Two hours will be long enough."
"Well, if I promise you to remain quiet where I am, without calling out, would you gag me?"
"Hum!" said the captain; "A promise is a very vague thing, Malco, when it concerns life or death."
"That is true, but if I made you that promise?"
Diogo shook his head with an embarrassed air.
"Come! Answer!" pursued Malco.
"Well, no! I could not accept it," said Diogo. "There, I tell you plainly, it would be too dangerous."
"Wait," cried Malco, as he prepared to fix the gag.
Diogo stopped.
"Well, now," pursued Malco, "if, instead of this promise, I were to give you my word of honour as a cavalheiro, what would you do?"