“If the señor will par——”
“Do not say it again! For whom were you looking?”
“I have a brother at San Francisco de Asis, señor. He has been helping the good padre there. He is due to return——”
“And you so love your brother that you would run to meet him, eh?” the sergeant interrupted. “Straighten your tongue, dog, and answer me my question!”
“I swear that I have a brother coming, señor!”
“Um! If you swear, I suppose that it must be so. At least the padre teaches you to respect an oath. But was it your brother for whom you were looking? Answer me that!”
“I am anxious to greet him, señor. He has been a long time in the north.”
“No doubt. Take your bruised back to the other room, now, and fetch wine. And if you wish to live to greet your brother, be sure that you fetch it quickly!”
The neophyte glided away as the soldiers laughed. Sergeant Cassara stalked to the table in the middle of the room, and the others crowded around him when he beckoned.
“This neophyte will bear watching,” the sergeant announced. “I have suspected him for several days. He has a sneaking way about him, the dog! He would like to slit our throats as we sleep, no doubt!”