“It is possible,” said Roddy. “I have been in Porto Cabello about four months now.”
“It was not of Porto Cabello that I spoke,” continued Vega, “but of Curaçao.” He looked into Roddy’s eyes suddenly and warily, as a swordsman holds the eyes of his opponent. “I did not understand,” he said, “that you knew the Rojas family?”
“I do not know them,” answered Roddy.
Vega turned his back to the moon, so that his face was in shadow. With an impatient gesture he flicked his cigarette into the sea. As though he found Roddy’s answer unsatisfactory, he paused. He appeared to wish that Roddy should have a chance to reconsider it. As the American remained silent, Vega continued, but his tone now was openly hostile.
“I have been Chief of Staff to General Rojas for years,” he said. “I have the honor to know his family well. Señora Rojas treats me as she did her son, who was my dearest friend. I tell you this to explain why I speak of a matter which you may think does not concern me. This morning, entirely against my will, I overheard you speaking to your friend. He asked you of a certain lady. You answered boldly you intended to marry her.” Vega’s voice shook slightly, and he paused to control it. “Now, you inform me that you are not acquainted with the Rojas family. What am I to believe?”
“I am glad you spoke of that,” said Roddy heartily. “I saw that you overheard us, and I was afraid you’d misunderstand me——”
The Venezuelan interrupted sharply.
“I am well acquainted with your language!”
“You speak it perfectly,” Roddy returned, “but you did not understand it as I spoke it. The young lady is well known in Willemstad. Our Consul, as you are aware, is her friend. He admires her greatly. He told me that she is half American. She has been educated like an American girl, she rides, she plays tennis. What my friend said to me was, ‘What sort of a girl is Señorita Rojas?’ and I answered, ‘She is the sort of girl I am going to marry,’ meaning she is like the girls in my own country, one of our own people, like one of the women I some day hope to marry.”
Roddy smiled and shrugged his shoulders.