A quick look of intelligent forethought passed over Harris’ face, but he only replied, calmly, “You shall have it;” then, turning from the warm fire, he commenced an animated conversation with Wallace concerning his position and its profits.
“Where are your men?” suddenly exclaimed the stranger, rising from his seat, and drawing the heavy folds of his Spanish cloak more closely about his short figure.
“They have gone up the river in the boat, and will soon return,” replied Harris.
“Do you reside near here?” asked Wallace.
Harris laughed. “Our traffic is such that it requires us to be constantly on the wing, and we have chosen this as our stopping place,” he answered.
Wallace did not notice the reply; he was looking thoughtfully at the heavy chests, and wondering what they contained. Harris saw it; he knew that suspicion was worse than a knowledge; so carelessly continuing the conversation, he said, “We have a great deal of merchandise to transport, and such cases as these are very useful. This,” he said, pushing the spring to one of them, “contains clothing for my wife, Lady Morrillo, which is my native name.”
“But these are Spanish goods, I take it,” said Wallace, with an earnest look at the nicely-packed box.
“They are,” was the reply; “they come from the capital. I had an opportunity to procure them easily; and, besides, I like the Spanish costume for a lady; especially when travelling. See,” he continued, raising a delicate jewel case, and turning the flashing diamonds to the light, “this is of native Spanish workmanship, and there is more beauty than durability to it, I expect.”
“Yes,” said the stranger, rousing himself from the drowsy sleep into which he had fallen, “yes, that came from the queen’s boudoir. I tried hard to save them, but it was no use; the robbers were too strong for us.” And with a heavy sigh the man leaned his head against the back of his large chair and appeared to sleep.
A dark thought flashed across Wallace’s mind, but Harris laughed so unconcernedly, and handled the brilliant ornaments with such natural, careless ease, that he forgot his suspicions in their beguiling talk.