As he knew the sun at his rising, so surely had he known El Cojeante when he had struck his first blow at the doctor that was a black bull. He had run from the house lest El Cojeante should slay Pépe before knowing him.
Hidden as the Lizard they called him hides in winter, he had seen the black doctor in pursuit of El Cojeante escaping with his woman that was clad in Dutch Fridji's skirt and the loose coat of a man. And, since he knew that God and the Saints will take the side of the man whom none can outwit, Pépe crept back to the house.
Here Dick interrupted:
"You left your compañero de grillos for fear of the Black Bull!" he exclaimed.
Pépe smiled, shaking his head.
"It was for fear of that which came to el toro erizado," he answered. "Very wise was I, and prudent, for but three minutes since did I see him, and in his throat la navaja de la ramera Holandesa." He made a movement with his hand, and added: "I remembered the days when I and Dicco threw the knife."
He had gone back, he shamelessly continued, to learn how the land lay; for, should they be all dead, as he almost expected, for Pépe there would be pickings.
To find Dicco el Cojeante again, time was plenty, for la señorita con el pelo rojo must set the pace.
In the hall, Melchardo was not yet come back to his sense; that other that had fallen with him—Hebérto, the London man—was pouring water on Melchardo's head, while upstairs screamed la Holandesa.
And then came imperious clamour of the telephone. Pépe felt it was angry.