"Do you speak English?" he asked with a friendly grin.
"Why, yes," said the other smiling back.
"Well, I'm glad of that!" said Greg. "I feel like a fish out of water in this joint."
"An American?" said the other. "How did you happen to come here?"
"The hotels are full at this season. I put up at the first where I could get a room." Greg offered him a cigar. "But maybe you won't care for it," he added diffidently. "I expect you Spanish fellows know cigars."
"We know them," the other said accepting it smilingly, "but that's about all. All the best tobacco is shipped to the United States."
"Been in this town long?" asked Greg.
"Just got in from New Orleans."
Greg turned grave. De Socotra had just come from New Orleans. Could he after all be deceived in his man? "Live there?" he asked.
"No, I live in Managuay."