Before we separated I invited Señor Carera to almuerzo (the equivalent to the Continental second breakfast) on the following day.
After a moment’s reflection he accepted the invitation. “But we shall have to be very cautious,” he added. “The posada is a Royalist house, and the posadero (innkeeper) is hand and glove with the police. If we speak of the patriots at all, it must be only to abuse them…. But our turn will come, and—por Dios!—then—”
The fierce light in Carera’s eyes, the gesture by which his words were emphasized, boded no good for the Royalists if the patriots should get the upper hand. No wonder that a war in which men like him were engaged on the one side, and men like el Commandant Castro on the other, should be savage, merciless, and “to the death.”
As I had decided to quit Caracas so soon, it did not seem worth while presenting the letter to one of his brother officers which I had received from Commandant Castro. I thought, too, that in existing circumstances the less I had to do with officers the better. But I did not like the idea of going away without fulfilling my promise to call on Zamorra’s old friend, Don Señor Ulloa.
So when I returned to the posada I asked the posadero (innkeeper), a tall Biscayan, with an immensely long nose, a cringing manner, and an insincere smile, if he would kindly direct me to Señor Ulloa’s house.
“Si, señor,” said the posadero, giving me a queer look, and exchanging significant glances with two or three of his guests who were within earshot. “Si, señor, I can direct you to the house of Señor Ulloa. You mean Don Simon, of course?”
“Yes. I have a letter of introduction to him.”
“Oh, you have a letter of introduction to Don Simon! if you will come into the street I will show you the way.”
Whereupon we went outside, and the posadero, pointing out the church of San Ildefonso, told me that the large house over against the eastern door was the house I sought.
“Gracias, señor,” I said, as I started on my errand, taking the shady side of the street and walking slowly, for the day was warm.