"What credit," don Antonio added, "will be given us by the persons with whom we wish to come to an understanding, if we have nothing to prove to them that we are duly authorized to do so?"
"That does not concern me—each for himself in this world. I am an honest man, and must guard my interests as you do yours."
"What you are saying is absurd," don Antonio exclaimed, impatiently; "we risk our heads in this affair."
"Possibly, my dear sir; everybody does as he pleases. I am an honest man, I go straight before me. You will not have the letter unless you give me what I ask; give and give, that is all I know. Why did you not warn the general of today's affair, in accordance with your agreement with him?"
"We have proved to you that it was impossible, as the sortie was unexpectedly resolved on."
"Good, that! You will settle as you can with the General-in-Chief—I wash my hands of it."
"Enough of this nonsense," don Antonio said, drily; "will you, or will you not, deliver to this caballero or myself the letter which the President intrusted to you for us?"
"No," don Felipe answered, bluntly, "unless you give me an order for ten thousand piastres. It is really giving it away, but I am an honest man."
"Hum!" the adventurer muttered to himself, "An autograph of señor Benito Juárez is really precious. I would not bargain if he offered it to me."
"But," don Melchior exclaimed, "you will commit a scandalous robbery in acting thus."