"The sky is ever a welcome roof to us," added Pike, no less offended than myself.
"But that is impossible, señores!" urged the Commandant, with growing concern. He turned appealingly to Malgares—"Pray persuade them, Don Faciendo! Should they refuse my hospitality I could never forgive myself!"
"From the first our countrymen have given them the warmest of welcomes," remarked Malgares, his chin still high.
"Por Dios! Do I deny it? Yet consider, I have but now received the gazette from the City of Mexico."
"The gazette?" inquired Malgares, unbending.
"With the account of the terrible Colonel Burr."
"Señor, we will be pleased to accept your hospitality," said Pike.
Immediately there was a general exchange of amicable bows, and the Commandant conducted us to his quarters. I could see that Malgares was hardly less eager than Pike and myself to hear the news about Burr. But diplomacy, no less than etiquette, compelled us to repress our burning curiosity until our host had exemplified his hospitality with a light evening meal. As we rose from the table, he remarked that we might better enjoy our cigarros under the starlight, on the azotea.
"Perdone, amigo," replied Malgares, suavely. "You spoke of the gazette. I would hardly venture to say how old was the last gazette which I saw at Santa Fe."
"Con permiso, señores," said the Commandant, bowing to Pike and myself.