"I am in Chihuahua, and I have serenaded Señorita Vallois," I replied.
"But you did not know of my pledge. I will spare you this time."
"Muchas gracias, señor. Yet it seems to me it is a question of my sparing you."
"In that case, Señor Robinson might do well to consider that His Excellency, the Governor-General, would gladly welcome an excuse to garrotte a certain Americano spy."
"That may be. Still, a sword prick in the back is fair evidence against a dead assassin, even in a prejudiced court."
"True. Then it may be that the Americano caballero is sufficiently gallant to consider the scandal of a slaying beneath the window of a señorita of his acquaintance."
"A scandal which, it seems, one Lieutenant Medina did not consider. For all that, the argument is sound, Vaya!" I ordered, lowering my pistol.
"No!" he rejoined. "I will not go and leave you here."
"You shall!"
"Nada!"