He hissed out the last sentence, and bent a little forward. Jack shrugged. "She wasn’t always so fond of you," he said bluntly. "That is not the point, is it?" returned Miguel with an exasperating smile. "The match has long been talked of; Don Fernan and my father were agreed that it was an excellent arrangement for uniting the business interests of the two families. And now that Don Fernan is dead I shall marry Juanita as soon as possible, my father will retire, and I shall be the sole partner of your excellent father, for you, of course, have a soul much above business, and will no doubt ere long be a field-marshal. Perhaps, however, you have no ambition to earn fame in the open and heroic way? Your costume would suggest, my friend, that you are satisfied with a more modest and retiring part—but still, no doubt, profitable—" "It seems to me, Miguel," said Jack, interrupting him very quietly, "that you have forgotten the last thrashing I gave you. Remember, I am always at your service. But I should not advise you to risk another scar like the one you have already. How," he added quickly, "did you come by that?" Miguel’s sullen face assumed a dusky hue, and the scar showed all the more livid. He flinched, as bullies will, before Jack’s menacing attitude. "Hot-tempered as ever," he said with an attempt to smile. "Why will you take offence so easily? What have I said? Here I find you, an Englishman, in Spanish dress, and I conclude, naturally enough, that you are fulfilling an office of very great importance and usefulness, and when I—" "Now look here, Miguel, I don’t want to quarrel with you, but you’d better understand at once that I’m not a child, and that your oily tongue won’t do you any good with me. I don’t suppose we shall see much more of each other; when—if—you marry Juanita you will settle down, I suppose, in Saragossa, and our paths won’t cross. I tell you frankly I’m astonished that Juanita will have you; but she’s old enough to know her own mind—though our girls in England don’t marry so early—and I hope with all my heart she’ll be happy. And now I think I’d better say good-night!" "And good-bye!" said Miguel sweetly. "I will carry your good wishes to Juanita, be sure of that." "Where is she, by the way?" asked Jack. "In Saragossa, with her aunt the Doña Teresa." "And you are returning immediately?" "Oh no! I go on to-morrow towards Leon, with despatches for the Marquis of La Romana. The Spanish generals will have to strike a blow without the assistance of your General Moore, it appears." Jack ignored the sneer. "Well, good-bye!" he said. "There’s no need to suggest that you should take care the French don’t catch you." "True, true, Jackino. Give my respects, when you see him, to your excellent father, to whom I hope to have before long the honour of sending the documents relative to the changes in the business. Adios, amigo mio!"