“Faith, gentlemen, is this the best accommodation Governor Valdez can furnish his guests? We must petition him to improve the sanitation of his hotel.”
“We are being told, one may suppose, that General Valdez is the newly elected governor?”
“Right, your excellency, elected by a large majority to succeed the late Governor Megales.”
“Late!” The former governor lifted his eyebrows. “Am I also being told that necessity demands the posting of the suicide bulletin, after all?”
“Not at all. Sure, I gave you me word, excellency. And that is one of the reasons why I am here. We have arranged to run a special down the line to-night, in order to avoid the risk of the news leaking out that you are still here. Can you make your arrangements to take that train, or will it hurry your packing too much?”
Megales laughed. “I have nothing to take with me except my daughter. The rest of my possessions may be forwarded later.”
“Oh, your daughter! Well, that’s pat, too. What about the lad, Valdez?”
“Are you his representative, señor?”
“Oh, he can talk for himself.” O’Halloran grinned. “He’s doing it right now, by the same token. Shall we interrupt a tête-à-tête and go pay our compliments to Miss Carmencita? You will want to find out whether she goes with you or stays here.”
“Assuredly. Anything to escape this cave.”