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Updated: May 17, 2025
"Suppose, for example, that my father were to hint to this fellow Alvaros that he is not wanted here, and that his visits must cease, the probability is that the man who, I may mention, is captain of a regiment of infantry would at once proceed to hint to his superiors that all is not right with us, when there is no knowing what dreadful thing might happen.
Now there were three and only three possible ways of approach to the estate, the first being by the main road from Pinar del Rio; the second by the cross-country route which Jack and Carlos had followed when riding into Pinar del Rio on the occasion of their intervention in the James B. Potter incident; and the third by the route which Alvaros was supposed to have taken on the occasion of his flight, this being the road from the mountains by which Maceo had travelled.
But it will not be piracy, for I shall do the trick under the Cuban flag the flag of Cuba Libre, and I shall therefore be a belligerent, not a pirate. And, as to shooting Alvaros dead I certainly will not do that if I can possibly help it, for such a punishment as that would be altogether too light for the atrocious crime of which he has been guilty, upon his own confession."
"There is no doubt in my mind," said he, "that Alvaros intends to kill you, if he can; for what you said to him yesterday has evidently sunk into his mind and made him afraid of you. Therefore you must be careful to fire sharp upon the word, or he will have you, for to give the fellow his due he is rather a neat and quick hand with the pistol.
And thereupon he related all that had passed at the restaurant, repeating Alvaros' words as nearly verbatim as he could remember them. "Oh, the despicable villain, the atrocious scoundrel!" exclaimed Don Ramon, when Singleton had come to the end of his narrative. "But do you really believe that the part of his story relating to the Senorita Isolda is true?
For although Senor Montijo was one of the most important and influential persons in the island, he was a Cuban; and, as such, he was well aware that, thanks to the corruption which was then rampant among the Spanish officials of the Government, there could be no hope of justice for him if he were brought into collision with any of these officials, of whom, of course, Alvaros was one.
Then, when his arm was tired, and he could flog no longer, Carlos desisted, and ordered Alvaros to be cast loose from the stake and securely confined in an empty tobacco shed, with a negro on guard at the door of the building to see that he did not escape.
The Don accorded his visitor a courteous if somewhat stiff welcome, and, having requested him to be seated, enquired in what way he could be of service for this formal visit had somehow suggested to Don Hermoso the idea that Captain Alvaros desired to borrow money from him.
The worst of it is that we can take no overt steps in the matter; for, as our friend Panza hinted, if we were to go to the authorities with a statement of what has occurred, and lodge a complaint against Alvaros, we should only be laughed at. The Spanish Government protects its own people pretty effectually; but Cubans and foreigners have to take care of themselves as best they can."
"However," he comforted himself by saying, "such atrocities as Senor Alvaros has committed do not go unpunished, and the time will come when he will wish that he had shot himself rather than yield to the suggestions of his own evil heart!"
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