“And you immediately turned about to tattle this to me?”
He merely smiled under her bright scorn. “To see you home.”
“Where you will proceed to make my mother eternally miserable, and uncle—”
“—Infernally angry? On the contrary, I am prepared to back up with pistol and knife the tale of Maria’s visitation. Why should I wish to bring suffering to the good mother? It was a hap of the trail, and, much as I hate all gringos, it was far better that you should have been in this man’s hands. Some day I may have to kill him, and I shall do it with greater pleasure because of this!”
“If the attempt does not fail as miserably as that which you made on his soul.”
“Put it morals, cousin, just to bring it within the bounds of my comprehension. You know my beliefs as to souls.”
“In any case it was a mean trick.”
“Tricks are tricks only when they fail. Successful, they rise to the dignity of strategems. And he ought not to complain. Did he not come out of the ordeal unscathed, tricked out in the flowers of virtue? He’s really in my debt. But returning to my point, some day I shall kill him; but in the mean time I have asked him to lunch with us. As he looked hungry, I should suggest a little haste.”
“I am ready now.” Going toward him, she spoke, hesitantly: “Let me—thank you. Were you always thus, Sebastien, we should be better friends.”