As he listened, Ney's slow thoughts came to a focus. And when Jacqueline turned to him again, he gave way graciously, which brought on him a sharp scrutiny from the ranchero. However, the truce between the two antagonists was patched up with a readiness on both sides. Ney restored to Fra Diavolo his pistol, and had his own weapons back in exchange. Next he took the ship's steward aside, apparently to instruct him about bringing the trunk. "And steward," he whispered, "don't forget to make it urgent. The skipper must land all the troops on board at once." He decided that meantime he would stroll up to the fort on his own account, and bring down more aid from there. "Now then," reflected the beaming young Gaul, "our _spirituelle_ little marquise will find that one may have wits, and not read her dense old poets, either." He opened the cafe door for her and both joined the maid Berthe, who was still clinging to sanctuary inside. The American lieutenant-colonel and the Mexican capitan looked at one another. They felt deserted. Fra Diavolo's teeth bared. "Ai, que mal educados," he observed. "They're ill-bred, I say. They kick a gentleman in the stomach--in the stomach, senor!" Driscoll turned to go. It was enough of satisfaction to reflect that, if any mention of the affair reached Maximilian, his own part therein would not injure his errand to Mexico. As for the rest, Mexicans and French could go their own ways--he had amused himself. "Well, adios, captain," he said, and swung on his heel. "Wait! Which direction, senor?" "To this meson here, around the corner." "If Your Mercy is not in a hurry----" Driscoll nodded, and the capitan stopped to say a few words to two of his vagabonds. One of these immediately hurried off in the direction of the river. The other was still loafing outside the cafe when his chief rejoined Driscoll. "Looks like you were interested in His Resplendent Majesty," Fra Diavolo began with weighty lightsomeness. "Mustn't hurt his feelings, eh, caballero?" Driscoll laughed easily, "It was all on the girl's account," he said. The ranchero glanced at him quickly, sideways, a dark look of suspicion. "On her account, senor, not Maximilian's?" he repeated. "Dios mio, caballero, I'll wager you have forgotten her already." Which, to tell the truth, was fairly exact. At the meson Don Anastasio regarded the American with much more respect to see him returning in such company. But to Fra Diavolo he addressed himself in his thin obsequious voice, "You see I am waiting, as you wished. But on my, my daughter's account, I----" "So, captain," Driscoll interrupted, "you're the one that's holding back Murgie! Just tell him, Murgie, that I am in a rush." Fra Diavolo smiled and bade his American have patience, for he quite believed that the Senor Murguia would be starting in the morning.