Colonel Barcelo came to them with heavy step.
"I hear, Moraga, you play a clever hand at cribbage. I haven't met my match at that since I've been in California. Come to the card room with me and try this thing out. What say?"
"I'm at your disposal, Colonel, but distrust comes to me when I think of contesting my small knowledge of the game against your undoubted excellence."
"I'll tell you over the cards of the players I've bested in Europe. Let us go now."
"Colonel Barcelo," from Señora Moraga, "are we likely to have war?"
"Señora, you are not the tenth, nor even the twentieth, who has come up and asked me that question this evening."
The portly Colonel extended his chest. "Now, I cannot, of course, speak of private or official information. No man, no real man, you understand, in my position would do so. But I will say that the combined position of comandante and acting governor-general gives me rare opportunities to become acquainted with the exact state of affairs. You understand me, of course, señora.
"Yes," rather faintly from Señora Moraga.
"Well, where was I when interrupted? O yes. This question of war. I'll simply say no force—no force, mind you—could ever take Monterey, the capital. Our swivel guns at the castle rake sea- and land-approach. We are absolutely impregnable."
"But the rest of us—of the country outside the capital?" again ventured Señora Moraga.