“You ask that, señor?”
Madeiras’ teeth showed white and even in the half light.
“That mortgage, eh? We can adjust that. Things can be arranged. Tobias oversteps himself now and then. But give me a little time; I’ll fix that up. And now about the five hundred—you keep it. You’ll be goin’ away, and you’ll be needin’ money.” Aaron rubbed his hands. “Yes,” he repeated, “you keep that money, Tony.”
“No, señor,” Tony said lightly. “You have made leetla mistak’. You tak’ those money back. But you owe me somet’ing, of course. I keep thees.”
Madeiras had been running his fingers through the contents of Gallup’s purse and now held out for Aaron’s inspection the little gold snake Crosbie Traynor had worn on his hat band.
Gallup shrank back, his jaws working nervously. The next second he was reaching for the little charm.
“No, señor,” Tony warned. “I keep eet.”
“I didn’t know it was in there,” Gallup shrieked. “It’s mine! What in hell do you want with it?”
“Thass fonny t’ing why I want heem, señor. But since first time I see those leetla snake I t’ink mebbe I lak’ to wear heem on my hat ban’ some time.”
“What’re you talkin’ about? I’ve owned that luck piece these forty years. Who’d you ever see wearin’ it?”