"No. I prefer to remain here a few days longer."
"You told me yourself that your interests claim your presence at Nacogdoches. Go, but return as soon as possible."
There was a silence, during which the brothers reflected deeply. The moon rose pallid and mournful on the horizon.
"That Wilkes is a villain," Don Stefano went on; "who knows whether he is not waiting my departure to attempt on the hacienda one of those terrible expeditions of which he is accused by the public voice?"
Don Pacheco began laughing, and, stretching out his hand in the direction of the farm, whose white walls stood out clearly on the dark blue sky, he said:—
"The Papagallo has too hard sides for those bandits. Go in peace, brother, they will not venture it."
"May Heaven grant it!" Don Stefano murmured.
"Oh, those men are cowards, and I inflicted a well-merited punishment on the scoundrel."
"Agreed."
"Well?"