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Updated: September 24, 2025
In two days, or three days at the outside, Fragoso could get into communication with the old comrades of the adventurer. "Yes! I could do that," he repeated to himself; "but what would be the good of it, supposing I succeeded? If we are sure that one of Torres' companions has recently died, would that prove him to be the author of this crime?
And so, if the document could be read, if the key had been found, if the cipher on which the system hung were known, no doubt of its truth could be entertained. But this cipher Fragoso did not know.
Fragoso had no big box, nor drum, nor cornet to attract the attention of his clients not even a carriage of shining copper, with resplendent lamps and ornamented glass panels, nor a huge parasol, no anything whatever to impress the public, as they generally have at fairs. No; but Fragoso had his cup and ball, and how that cup and ball were manipulated between his fingers!
Benito, hurrying on, soon disappeared behind one of the sandy knolls. "Quicker! quicker!" said Manoel to Fragoso. "We must not leave him alone for an instant." And they were dashing along when a shout struck on their ears. Had Benito caught sight of Torres? What had he seen? Had Benito and Torres already met?
The pilot was silent for a few moments; they felt that he was reflecting before he spoke. "Mr. Benito," he said at length, "I am not in the habit of speaking lightly. I had the same idea as you; but listen. During the ten hours we have been at work have you seen a single cayman in the river?" "Not one," said Fragoso.
"Capital! capital!" repeated Fragoso unceasingly; "but I never thought Para was such a long way off!" As for Manoel and Benito, they had had a long conversation about what had passed. There could be no question about obtaining from Joam Garral the dismissal of his rescuer. "Your life is precious to me above all things!" Torres had said.
Leave me!" Fragoso, repulsed, would not quit the spot. Again he threw himself at the judge's feet. "Joam Dacosta is innocent!" he cried; "you will not leave him to die? It was not he who committed the crime of Tijuco; it was the comrade of Torres, the author of that document! It was Ortega!" As he uttered the name the judge bounded backward.
"No," replied Fragoso; "but, I repeat, Torres has not lied. One of his companions, with whom he was very intimate, died a few months ago, and there can be no doubt but that this man gave him the document he came to sell to Joam Dacosta." "No," answered Jarriquez "no, there is no doubt about it as far as we are concerned; but that is not enough for those who dispose of the doomed man's life.
And then men and women, with equal eagerness, took their places on the barber's stool. The scissors of Fragoso had little to do, for it was not a question of cutting these wealthy heads of hair, nearly all remarkable for their softness and their quality, but the use to which he could put his comb and the tongs, which were kept warming in the corner in a brasier.
"A famous idea that of yours, Miss Lina," he was constantly saying, "to play at 'following the liana! It is a capital game even if you do not always find a poor chap of a barber at the end!" "Quite a chance, Mr. Fragoso," would laughingly reply Lina; "I assure you, you owe me nothing!" "What! nothing!
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