"But I am too old a man to be caught by any such lie as that.

He was trying to lead us on, that we might walk into their Gringo trap.

Was he not ?" "Truly I do not know," Nicolas repeated.
"Then what are you doing here, if you bring us no news ?" snarled Gato, whereat Nicolas began to tremble.
"I--I bring a letter from his excellency, _el caballero_, Reade," faltered the servant.
"A letter ?" cried Gato, hoarsely.

"Why did you not say so before." "I have been waiting, Senor Gato, until you gave me time to speak," protested the messenger.
"Hand me the letter," ordered Gato, stretching forth his hand.
Nicolas handed over the page torn from Tom's notebook.

Gato slowly puzzled his way through the note, his anger rising with every word.
"The insolent Gringo!" he cried.