"I am your servant," replied the Mexican, calmly.
"Wrong; you're Don Luis's servant."
"But he ordered me to wait on you both unceasingly, senor."
"We have left Don Luis's house, for good," Tom continued, walking over to where the barefooted one sat.
"That may be true, senor; it is true, since you say it, but my orders have not been changed. Until Don Luis tells me differently I shall go on serving you."
"Did Don Luis send you after us, Nicolas?" Reade demanded, wonderingly.
"No, senor."
"Did any one at the house send you?"
"No, senor. I did not need to be sent. I am faithful."
Nicolas followed this with a smile that showed his white teeth.
He spoke in utter simplicity.