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is four years since you've seen him； and surely the man has either
shaved since； or else he took a ridiculous vow never to do it； and
then he would be more fully bearded。〃
But Dona Rosita only shook her pretty head。 〃Ah； but he have an
aira something I know not what you callso。〃 She threw her
shawl over her left shoulder； and as far as a pair of soft blue
eyes and comfortably pacific features would admit； endeavored to
convey an idea of wicked and gloomy abstraction。
〃You child；〃 said Joan；〃that's nothing； they all of them do that。
Why； there was a stranger at the Oriental Hotel whom I met twice
when I was therejust as mysterious； romantic； and wicked…looking。
And in fact they hinted terrible things about him。 Well！ so much
so； that Mr。 Demorest was quite foolish about my being barely civil
to himyou understandand〃 She stopped suddenly； with a
heightened color under the fire of Rosita's laughing eyes。
〃AhsoDona Discretion！ Tell to me all。 Did our hoosband eat
him？〃
Joan's features suddenly tightened to their old puritan rigidity。
〃Mr。 Demorest has reasonsabundant reasonsto thoroughly
understand and trust me；〃 she replied in an austere voice。
Rosita looked at her a moment in mystification and then shrugged
her shoulders。 The conversation dropped。 Nevertheless； it is
worthy of being recorded that from that moment the usual familiar
allusions； playful and serious； to Rosita's mysterious visitor
began to diminish in frequency and finally ceased。 Even the news
brought by Demorest of some vague rumor in the pueblo that an
intended attack on the stage…coach had been frustrated by the
authorities； and that the vicinity had been haunted by incognitos
of both parties； failed to revive the discussion。
Meantime the slight excitement that had stirred the sluggish life
of the pueblo of San Buenaventura had subsided。 The posada of
Senor Mateo had lost its feverish and perplexing dual life； the
alley behind it no longer was congested by lounging cigarette
smokers； the compartment looking upon the silent patio was
unoccupied； and its chairs and tables were empty。 The two deputy
sheriffs； of whom Senor Mateo presumably knew very little； had
fled； and the mysterious Senor Johnson； of whom hestill
presumablyknew still less； had also disappeared。 For Senor
Mateo's knowledge of what transpired in and about his posada； and
of the character and purposes of those who frequented it； was
tinctured by grave and philosophical doubts。 This courteous and
dignified scepticism generally took the formula of quien sabe to
all frivolous and mundane inquiry。 He would affirm with strict
verity that his omelettes were unapproachable； his beds miraculous；
his aguardiente supreme； his house was even as your own。 Beyond
these were questions with which the simply finite and always
discreet human intellect declined to grapple。
The disturbing effect of Senor Corwin upon a mind thus gravely
constituted may be easily imagined。 Besides Ezekiel's inordinate
capacity for useless or indiscreet information； it was undeniable
that his patent medicines had effected a certain peaceful
revolutionary movement in San Buenaventura。 A simple and
superstitious community that had steadily resisted the practical
domestic and agricultural American improvements； succumbed to the
occult healing influences of the Panacea and Jones's Bitters。 The
virtues of a mysterious balsam； more or less illuminated with a
colored mythological label； deeply impressed them； and the
exhibition of a circular； whereon a celestial visitant was
represented as descending with a gross of Rogers' Pills to a
suffering but admiring multitude； touched their religious
sympathies to such an extent that the good Padre Jose was obliged
to warn them from the pulpit of the diabolical character of their
heresies of healingwith the natural result of yet more
dangerously advertising Ezekiel。 There were those too who spoke
under their breath of the miraculous efficacy of these nostrums。
Had not Don Victor Arguello； whose respectable digestion； exhausted
by continuous pepper and garlic； failed him suddenly； received an
unexpected and pleasurable stimulus from the New England rum； which
was the basis of the Jones Bitters？ Had not the baker； tremulous
from excessive aguardiente； been soothed and sustained by the
invisible morphia； judiciously hidden in Blogg's Nerve Tonic？ Nor
had the wily Ezekiel forgotten the weaker sex in their maiden and
maternal requirements。 Unguents； that made silken their black but
somewhat coarsely fibrous tresses； opened charming possibilities to
the Senoritas； while soothing syrups lent a peaceful repose to many
a distracted mother's household。 The success of Ezekiel was so
marked as to justify his return at the end of three weeks with a
fresh assortment and an undiminished audacity。
It was on his second visit that the sceptical； non…committal policy
of Senor Mateo was sorely tried。 Arriving at the posada one night；
Ezekiel became aware that his host was engaged in some mysterious
conference with a visitor who had entered through the ordinary
public room。 The view which the acute Ezekiel managed to get of
the stranger； however； was productive of no further discovery than
that he bore a faint and disreputable resemblance to Blandford； and
was handsome after a conscious； reckless fashion； with an air of
mingled bravado and conceit。 But an hour later； as Corwin was
taking the cooler air of the veranda before retiring to one of the
miraculous beds of the posada； he was amazed at seeing what was
apparently Blandford himself emerge on horseback from the alley；
and after a quick glance towards the veranda； canter rapidly up the
street。 Ezekiel's first impression was to call to him； but the
sudden recollection that he parted from his old master on
confidential terms only three days before in San Francisco； and
that it was impossible for him to be in the pueblo； stopped him
with his fingers meditatively in his beard。 Then he turned in to
the posada； and hastily summoned Mateo。
The gentleman presented himself in a state of such profound
scepticism that it seemed to have already communicated itself to
his shoulders； and gave him the appearance of having shrugged
himself into the room。
〃Ha'ow long ago did Mr。 Johnson get here？〃 asked Corwin； lazily。
〃Ahpossiblythen there has been a Mr。 Johnson？〃 This is a
polite doubt of his own perceptions and a courteous acceptance of
his questioner's。
〃Wa'al； I guess so。 Considerin' I jest saw him with my own eyes；〃
returned Ezekiel。
〃Ah！〃 Mateo was relieved。 Might he congratulate the Senor Corwin；
who must be also relieved； and shake his respected hand。 Bueno。
And then he had met this Senor Johnson？ doubtless a friend？ And he
was well？ and all were happy？
〃Look yer； Mattayo！ What I wanter know ez THIS。 When did that
man； who has just ridden out of your alley； come here？ Sabe that
it's a plain question。〃
Ah surely； of the clearest comprehension。 Bueno。 It may have been
last weekor even this weekor perhaps yesterdayor of a
possibility to…day。 The Senor Corwin； who was wise and omniscient；
would comprehend that the difficulty lay in deciding WHO was that
man。 Perhaps a friend of the Senor Corwinperhaps only one who
LOOKED like him。 There existedmight Mateo point outa doubt。
Ezekiel regarded Mateo with a certain grim appreciation。 〃Wa'al；
is there anybody here who looks like Johnson？〃
Again there were the difficulty of ascertaining perfectly how the
Senor Johnson looked。 If the Senor Johnson was Americano；
doubtless there were other Americanos who had resembled him。 It
was possible。 The Senor Corwin had doubtless observed for a little
space a caballero who was here； as it were； in the instant of the
appearance of Senor Johnson？ Possibly there was a resemblance； and
yet
Corwin had certainly noticed this resemblance； but it did not suit
his cautious intellect to fall in with any prevailing scepticism of
his host。 Satisfied in his mind that Mateo was concealing
something from him； and equally satisfied that he would sooner or
later find it out； he grinned diabolically in the face