“One left a large fortune by a kinsman, who owned the ranch where she lives, and she came here to dwell, but receives no visitors, has no friendships, and lives such a life of utter seclusion we call her here in the valley the hermitess, the beautiful recluse, and other such names.”
“Who of her family are with her?”
“Not one.”
“Does she dwell all alone?”
“All alone, señor, save her servants and cattlemen, of whom there are quite a number, but they, too, hold themselves aloof from all others, and the stockmen are known as the hermit cowboys.”
“Then how can these secret taxgatherers, as we may call them, make a demand upon the Señorita Sada for so large a sum, as they cannot have any of her loved ones, señor?”
“Ah, but they have. She is betrothed to a Mexican officer, I hear, and he came here on a visit to her, was seized on his way home, and is now held a prisoner by these men whom no one knows. I learn the demand is made upon her regularly for five thousand pesos, and she pays it.”
“Is the officer a man of any prominence?”
“He is a captain of lanceros, señor, in the Mexican army.”
“It is strange that his government has taken no steps to release him.”