His close-fitting white clothes distinguished him from the picturesque untidiness of the rest, and when somebody shouted, "_Un Gringo!_" one or two moved across as if to stop him. Jake walked on quickly, looking straight in front without seeming to notice the others, in the hope of getting past before they got in his way, but a man dressed like a respectable citizen came round the corner and the peons ran off. Since the appearance of a single stranger did not seem to account for this, Jake wondered what had alarmed them, until he saw a rural guard in white uniform behind the other. When the man came up the _rurale_ stopped and raised his hand as if he meant to salute, but let it fall again, and Jake imagined that the first had given him a warning glance. He knew the thin, dark-faced Spaniard, whom he had met at Kenwardine's. The man touched Jake's shoulder and drew him away, and the lad thought it strange that the _rurale_ went on without asking a question. "I don't know that the peons meant to make trouble, but I'm glad you came along, Don Sebastian," he said. "It is an honor to have been of some service, but it looks as if you were as rash in other matters as you are at cards," the Spaniard answered. "These dark _calles_ are unsafe for foreigners." "So it seems, but I'm afraid it will be a long time before I'm worth robbing," Jake replied, and then remembered with embarrassment that the other was one of the party whose winnings he had not yet paid. Don Sebastian smiled, but said suavely: "For all that, you should not take an unnecessary risk. You have been attacked once already, I think?" "Yes, but it was my partner who got hurt." "That is one of the ironies of luck. Senor Brandon is sober and cautious, but he gets injured when he comes to protect you, who are rash." "He's what you say, but I didn't know you had met him," Jake replied. "I have heard of him; you foreigners are talked about in the cafes. They talk much in Santa Brigida; many have nothing else to do. But have you and Senor Brandon only been molested once?" Jake hesitated for a moment. He liked the man and on the whole thought he could be trusted, while he imagined that he was not prompted by idle curiosity but knew something. Besides, Jake was often impulsive and ready, as he said, to back his judgment. "We were only once actually attacked, but something rather curious happened not long ago." "Ah!" said Don Sebastian, "this is interesting, and as I know something of the intrigues that go on in the city it might be to your advantage to tell me about it. There is a quiet wine-shop not far off." "Would it be safe to go in?" Jake asked. "I think so," his companion answered, smiling.