"First, and before all else, my friend," said Antonio Rallier, "permit me to thank you once again, in my own name and that of my family, for the services you rendered me in our journey across the Rocky Mountains. Without you, without your watchful friendship and courageous devotion, we should never have emerged from those frightful gorges, but must have perished miserably in them."
"What good is it, my friend, to recall at this moment——"
"Because," Antonio Rallier continued eagerly, "I wish you to be thoroughly convinced that you can dispose of us all as you please. Our arms, purses, and hearts, all belong to you."
"I know it, my friend, and you see that I have not hesitated to make use of you, at the risk even of compromising you. So let us leave this subject, and come to facts. What have you done?"
"I have literally followed your instructions; according to your wish, I have hired and furnished for you a house in Tacuba Street."
"Pardon me, but you know that I am very slightly acquainted with Mexico, for I have visited that city but rarely, and each time without stopping."
"The Tacuba is one of the principal streets in Mexico; it faces the palace, and is close to the street in which I reside with my family."
"That is famous. And in whose name did you take the house?"
"In that of Don Serapio de la Ronda. Your servants arrived two days ago."
"You mean——"