"First, and before all else, my friend," said Antonio Rallier, "permit me to thank you once again, in my own name and that of my family, for the services you rendered me in our journey across the Rocky Mountains. Without you, without your watchful friendship and courageous devotion, we should never have emerged from those frightful gorges, but must have perished miserably in them."
"What good is it, my friend, to recall at this moment----"
"Because," Antonio Rallier continued eagerly, "I wish you to be thoroughly convinced that you can dispose of us all as you please. Our arms, purses, and hearts, all belong to you."
"I know it, my friend, and you see that I have not hesitated to make use of you, at the risk even of compromising you. So let us leave this subject, and come to facts. What have you done?"
"I have literally followed your instructions; according to your wish, I have hired and furnished for you a house in Tacuba Street."
"Pardon me, but you know that I am very slightly acquainted with Mexico, for I have visited that city but rarely, and each time without stopping."
"The Tacuba is one of the principal streets in Mexico; it faces the palace, and is close to the street in which I reside with my family."
"That is famous. And in whose name did you take the house?"
"In that of Don Serapio de la Ronda. Your servants arrived two days ago."
"I mean Belhumeur and Black Elk; the former is your steward and the latter your valet. They have made all the arrangements, and you can arrive when you please."
"Next, my brother Edward has taken, in his own name, at the San Lázaro gate, a small house, where ten horses, belonging to the purest mustang breed, were at once placed in a magnificent corral."
"That concerns Curumilla; he will live in that house with your brother."
"With you? nonsense!" said Valentine, holding out his hand.
"Not knowing whether you had sufficient funds at your disposal--and you will agree with me that you will require a large sum----?"
"I see I must come to your assistance, my poor Antonio. As you believe me a poor devil of a hunter not possessed of a farthing, and are so delicate minded yourself, you have placed in a corner of the room, or in some article of furniture, of which you want to give me the key and don't know how, fifty or perhaps one hundred thousand piastres, with the reservation to offer me more, should not that sum prove sufficient."