Moreover, this man was very powerful, and, as brother-in-law of Santa Anna, he was second only to the great dictator.

He did not ask Ned to sit down and he was brusque in speech.
The air about them grew distinctly colder.

Almonte had talked with Ned in English, but Cos spoke Spanish: "Why did you run away from the capital ?" he asked, shortly.

"You were treated well there." "No man can be held in prison and be treated well." General Martin Perfecto de Cos frowned.

The bearing of the young Gringo did not please him.