"My head is worth 15,000 piastres."
"That is a pretty sum. I doubt whether mine, which I value very much, is worth so great an amount."
"You do not understand what I mean."
"Upon my word, no; not the least in the world."
"Give me up; they will give you the money, and, more than that, they will pardon you."
The Frenchman knitted his eyebrows; his eyes flashed, and a livid paleness covered his face.
"Vive Dieu!" cried he, striking the table with his fist, "Do you know that you insult me, caballero?"
Don Santiago remained motionless and smiling; he held out his hand to the young man, and, inviting him to resume his seat he had so suddenly quitted:
"On the contrary," said he, "I give you a proof of the confidence I have in your honour, inasmuch as without your having asked who I am, I have told you; and now, knowing that I am completely in your power, I am going to stretch myself in your hammock, where I shall sleep under your protection as tranquilly as if I were in the midst of my friends."
"Well, sir," answered the young man, still with some little resentment, "I admit your explanation; only, if you choose to make yourself known to me, you should have done it in some other way than by attacking my honour."