“Ha! Marizano,” exclaimed Senhor Letotti, rising, “you have thought better of it, I presume?”
“I have, and I agree to your arrangement,” replied Marizano, in an off-hand, surly tone.
“There is nothing like necessity,” returned the Governor, with a laugh. “’Twere better to enjoy a roving life for a short time with a lightish purse in one’s pocket, than to attempt to keep a heavy purse with the addition of several ounces of lead in one’s breast! How say you?”
Marizano smiled and shrugged his broad shoulders, but made no reply, for just then his attention had been attracted to the slave-girl.
“For sale?” he inquired of the Arab carelessly.
Yoosoof bowed his head slightly.
“How much?”
“Come, come, gentlemen,” interposed the Governor, with a laugh and a glance at his daughter, “you can settle this matter elsewhere. Yoosoof has come here to talk with me on other matters.—Now, Maraquita dear, you had better retire for a short time.”
When the Senhorina had somewhat unwillingly obeyed, the Governor turned to Yoosoof: “I presume you have no objection to Marizano’s presence during our interview, seeing that he is almost as well acquainted with your affairs as yourself?”
As Yoosoof expressed no objection, the three drew their chairs together and sat down to a prolonged private and very interesting palaver.