"You were so close upon the man's heels, señor, that he scarce had time to wish for anything," Fray Felipe said.
"Yet you had some speech with him?"
"I opened the door at his knock, señor, the same as I opened it at yours."
"What said he?"
"That soldiers were pursuing him."
"And he asked that you hide him, so he could escape capture at our hands?"
"He did not."
"Wanted a fresh horse, did he?"
"He did not say as much, señor. If he is such a thief as he is painted, undoubtedly he would merely have taken a horse without asking, had he wanted it."
"Ha! What business had he with you, then? It would be well for you to answer openly, fray!"