Alvarez shrugged. "One gets used to these affairs; a custom of the country, and there is something to be said for it. If the plot succeeds, it is an easy way of turning out a president and changing the government. Perhaps it is better to kill a man or two than fight round barricades and burn the town."
"In the North, we find it possible to change our government by vote."
"You are cold-blooded people and don't understand the passions of the South," Alvarez rejoined with cynical humor. "We have tried your plan, but one must be rich to buy the votes. Besides, if one is beaten at the polls, there remains the last appeal to the knife. But you will let this go. We have something else to talk about."
"That is so," said Kit. "To begin with, I must thank you for sending your rurales to look after me."
"It is nothing," Alvarez replied in a deprecatory tone. "You are my guest and we try to take care of foreigners, because if they meet with accidents their consuls ask embarrassing questions. Besides, watching them serves two objects."
"Then, I expect you know I met Olsen at the café?" Kit suggested dryly.
Alvarez smiled. "Yes; I know. But I was not suspicious."
"After all, one doesn't generally conspire in a public place. In fact, I don't understand why Olsen met me there."
"He may have meant to compromise you; to put doubts in my mind."
"It's possible, now I think of it," Kit assented. "I hope he didn't succeed."