Pablo leaned against the adobe wall, thoughtfully drew forth tobacco bag and brown cigarette paper and, while shaking his head and appearing to ponder Kay's question, rolled a cigarette and lighted it. "We-l-l, _senorita_," he began presently, "I theenk first mebbeso eet ees because Don Miguel find heem one leetle piece paper on the trail. I am see him peeck those paper up and look at heem for long time before he ride to me and ask me many question about the _senorita_ and Senor Beel Conway those day we ride to Agua Caliente. He say to me: 'Pablo, you see Senor Beel Conway give to the senorita a writing?' '_Si, senor_.' 'You see Senorita Parker give to Senor Beel Conway a writing?' '_Si, senor_.' Then Don Miguel hee's don' say sometheeng more, but just shake hees _cabeza_ like thees," and Pablo gave an imitation of a muchly puzzled man wagging his head to stimulate a flow of ideas. A faintness seized the girl. "Didn't he say--_anything_?" she demanded sharply. "Oh, well, yes, he say sometheeng. He say: 'Well, I'bedam!' Then that leetle smile he don' have for long time come back to Don Miguel's face and hee's happy like one baby. I don' understand those boy ontil I see thees business"--Pablo wiggled his tobacco-stained thumb and forefinger--"then I know sometheeng! For long time those boy hee's pretty parteecular. Even those so beautiful _senorita_, 'Nita Sepulvida, she don' rope those boy like you rope it, _senorita_." And with the license of an old and trusted servant, the sage of Palomar favored her with a knowing wink. "He knows--he knows!" the girl thought. "What must he think of me! Oh, dear, oh, dear! if he mentions the subject to me I shall die." Tears of mortification were in her eyes as she turned angrily upon the amazed Pablo. "You--you--old sky-blue idiot!" she charged and fled to her room. CHAPTER XXVIII