“And losing?”
“I believe I was the more fortunate in the game. Afterward I felt sure this same Gonzales had been losing his wealth purposely, to delay me on my journey.”
“Who can tell?” said the caballero.
“I was well received at San Juan Capistrano—then came the storm. By the good saints, how it did rain!”
“I can swear as to that, señor, having been out in all of it.”
“I managed to reach San Luis Rey de Francia in time, and there the storm held me up again. These things, señor, delayed me so that I could not win my wager, but even these things would not have caused me to lose had you spent the night in the inn at Reina de Los Angeles.”
“I can well imagine that.”
“And now they tell me here at the mission that you are Captain Fly-by-Night, somewhat of a notorious personage.”
“So they call me, señor.”
“You perhaps heard them hail me as Rojerio Rocha? I have inherited a great rancho, it seems, and am to wed a fair señorita.”