Felipillo had kept his eyes upon him with unusual steadiness. Now he looked aside, weighed the proposition, and shook his head. "Impossible, Señor." "Impossible! Why impossible?" demanded the _veedor_; leaning eagerly forward. "One hundred and fifty _castellanos_ for thine own purse, boy! Why not?" "Because one hundred and fifty _castellanos_ would not pay me and hire them. A thousand _castellanos_ would not hire them, Señor, for they care not for gold. They know not its worth." "H’m! True!" said Rogelio, his jaw suddenly dropping in disappointment. "But—well, what would hire them? _Chicha_?" "_Chicha_ might, but they can get it more easily." "Then what would?" snapped the _veedor_. "Beastly savages, not to know the worth of money!" Felipillo was silent. Rogelio watched him anxiously for a time, then sat in a study. Finally he exclaimed: "Boy, I have it! These Cañares chafe under the yoke of Tavantinsuyu, not so?" Felipillo nodded. "Aha! _Bueno_! _Bueno_!" said the _veedor_, rubbing his hands. "We’ll offer them freedom." "We, Señor?" "I, dolt; I, myself! I’ll promise it them." "Thou, Señor! They will know better." "Bah! We can lie a little. But why not I?" Rogelio became suddenly pompous. "Thou knowest not my standing at home, boy. A letter from me to the Colonial Council, or to his Majesty, would have weight, let me tell thee. But as I say, we can promise." "It will not answer," said Felipillo, positively. "Moreover, they are like to be free, now, without anybody’s leave." The _veedor’s_ jaw sagged again. He studied heavily, and presently looked up. "Felipillo, I’ll tell thee what will effect it,—license of rapine!—liberty to plunder the natives hereabouts after we have marched! By the sacrament, I can promise them they shall have that, for a surety!" "They will have it anyway," replied Felipillo. "_Demonio!_" retorted Rogelio, testily. "But they will value a formal permit. I’ll give it. Bring hither their chiefs to-morrow night. Smuggle them in, dost understand? and I’ll wag a parchment before their eyes with a seal and ribbons on it. Thou’lt see! A liberality with _chicha_ will make the bargain easy. What sayst thou? Wilt deal with them for me? I know not the language." Felipillo considered long, to the _veedor’s_ impatience, and said at last, "It would do it, Señor, that is certain, but—" "Well, but what?" demanded Rogelio. The youth shook his head. "One hundred and fifty _castellanos_, Señor—" The _veedor_ wrenched himself about in his chair. "Oh, _infierno_! ’T is princely—princely, I tell thee! It would brush thee up, stake thy games, reinstate thee among the ladies! It might be thy making." Again Felipillo shook his head. "Murder and arson!" yelped the _veedor_, beginning to perspire. "Thou ’rt grasping, boy! One hundred and fifty _castellanos_! Oh, _Madre_! Then make it two hundred."