"Villa! General Francesco Villa! It is not possible!"
The little man was shivering with evident fear.
"See him! See Villa! Not possible. Let me show you a picture of him instead? But approach him—it is not possible. He shoots everybody at sight!"
"That's all right," I said. "I have a written safe conduct that protects me."
"From whom?"
"Here," I said, "look at them—I have two."
Raymon took the documents I gave him and read aloud:
"'The bearer is on an important mission connected with American rights in Mexico. If anyone shoots him he will be held to a strict accountability. W. W.' Ah! Excellent! He will be compelled to send in an itemised account. Excellent! And this other, let me see. 'If anybody interferes with the bearer, I will knock his face in. T. R.' Admirable. This is, if anything, better than the other for use in our country. It appeals to our quick Mexican natures. It is, as we say, simpatico. It touches us."
"It is meant to," I said.
"And may I ask," said Raymon, "the nature of your business with Villa?"