"You are full of penetration, señor: so pray come to the facts."
"In the first place you will give up the poor peons who have escaped the massacre."
"I see no difficulty in that."
"With their arms, horses and the little they possess."
"Agreed, go on."
"Don Andrés de la Cruz, his daughter, my friend, myself and Leo Carral, the majordomo, and all the women and children sheltered in this room, will be at liberty to retire whenever we please without fear of being disturbed."
Cuéllar made a grimace. "What next?" he said.
"Pardon me, is that settled?"
"Yes, it is settled; what next?"
"My friend and I are strangers, Frenchmen, and Mexico is not at war, as far as I am aware, with our country."