"Thanks, my friend. I myself am always careful of the night air. Good-day; I will give the mistress your message."
Romaña hurried back to the house, and sought his master in the office.
"Well, how is the invalid?" asked Mr. O'Hagan. "Did you see him?"
"No, señor: he was keeping his bed. I would suggest that you should send your own doctor to him."
"That's not necessary, surely. A good rubbing is all that he needs for lumbago."
"If it is lumbago!" said the man. "Will you give me a moment, señor?"
"Of course," replied Mr. O'Hagan, laying down his pen. "What is it?"
He leant back in his chair, frowning a little. A most unsuspicious man himself, he was annoyed at Romaña's suggestion of malingering, coming on top of the doubts hinted by Tim.
"On the day when the señor gobernador rode on the bicycle," said Romaña, "Señor Pardo sent a letter to his excellency the Prefect."
"What of that? and how do you know?" asked Mr. O'Hagan sharply.