We called him to come in and be measured, but with a somewhat insolent manner, he walked by, paying no attention to our words.

Sending the policemen for him, they soon returned with the report, "_No quiere_" (He does not care to come).

To allow a first refusal was not to be thought of, so we ordered his return.

Again the policemen came back with no result.

Thereupon I declared that no more work should be done until he came; that time would be lost thereby, and the _jefe's_ order would be disregarded, but that it was not our fault.
Upon this the _presidente_ informed us that the order was not explicit; it did not state that people must be measured; he would consult the civil code to see whether anyone but criminals must be measured.