“Let’s go,” said Quentin. “He’ll be giving us a great drubbing.”

They got up, and the innkeeper lighted their way to the street door with a small lamp. They walked together as far as El Gran Capitán; Cornejo, Bocanegra and Pacheco turned in the direction of Los Tejares; Quentin and the Swiss went down the Calle de Gondomar.

“But what do you expect of those people?” Springer asked presently.

“I! I don’t know, my boy; now—to be strong, ... later—we shall see.”

“Do you read Machiavelli?”

“I read nothing. Why?

“You are an extraordinary man, Quentin.”

“Bah!”

“Really. A type worth studying.”

“Well, look here, if you wish to study me, go to the Café del Recreo some night. There you’ll meet the girl that’s living with me.”