"Ah, ah," Tranquil said thoughtfully, "very good, go on. Why not sell it?" "Where are the buyers? Do you fancy it so easy to find about here a man with four or five hundred piastres in his pocket; and, moreover, ready to commit an act of folly?" "Well, I can't say, but I fancy by seeking he could be found." "Nonsense, gossip, you are jesting!" "On my word I am not," Tranquil said, suddenly changing his tone, "and I will prove it to you." "Good." "You say you will sell your house for four hundred piastres?" "Did I say four hundred?" "Don't finesse, you did." "Very good, then; I admit it: what next?" "Well, I will buy it, if you like." "You?" "Why not?" "I will think about it." "That is done; say yes or no, take it, or leave it; perhaps I may have altered my mind in five minutes, so decide." The landlord gave the Canadian a searching glance. "I accept," he said. "Good: but I will not give you four hundred piastres." "How much?" the other said, crying off. "I will give you six hundred." The landlord looked at him in amazement. "I am quite agreeable," he said. "But on one condition." "What is it?" "That to-morrow, so soon as the sale is completed, you will mount your horse--you have one, I suppose?" "Yes." "Well, you will mount, start, and never show yourself here again." "Oh! You may be quite certain on that point." "It's settled then?" "Perfectly." "Then let your witnesses be ready at day-break." "They shall be." The conversation ended here. The travellers wrapped themselves in their fressadas and zarapés, lay down on the lumpy floor of the room, and fell asleep; the host followed their example. As was arranged between them, the landlord, a little before daybreak, saddled his horse, and went to fetch the witnesses necessary for the validity of the transaction; for this purpose he galloped to the Larch-tree hacienda and returned by sunrise, accompanied by the major-domo and seven or eight peons. The major-domo, the only one who could read and write, drew up the deed of sale, and after collecting all the persons, read it aloud. Tranquil then took thirty-seven and a half gold onzas from his girdle, and spread them out on the table. "Be witnesses, Caballeros," the major-domo said, addressing his audience, "that the Señor Tranquilo has paid the six hundred piastres agreed on for the purchase of the Venta del Potrero." "We are witness," they replied. Then all present, the major-domo at their head, passed into the corral behind the house. On reaching it, Tranquil pulled up a tuft of grass which he cast over his shoulder; then picking up a stone, he hurled it over the opposite wall: according to the terms of Mexican law, he was now the owner. "Be witness, Señores," the major-domo again spoke, "that Señor Tranquilo, here present, has legally taken possession of this estate. _Dios y libertad!_" "_Dios y libertad_!" the others shouted; "Long life to the new huesped!"