hesatdowninthecustomer’schairandcrossedhisknees.「youwishcertaininformationaboutseñorlennox,iamtold.」

「thelastsceneonly.」

「iwasthereatthetime,señor.ihadapositioninthehotel.」heshrugged.「unimportantandofcoursetemporary.iwasthedayderk.」hespokeperfectenglishbutwithaspanishrhythm.spanish—americanspanishthatis—hasadefiniteriseandfallwhichtoanamericanearseemstohavenothingtodowiththemeaning.it’sliketheswelloftheocean.

「youdon’tlookthetype,」isaid.

「onehasdifficulties.」

「whomailedthelettertome?」

heheldoutaboxofcigarettes.「tryoneofthese.」ishookmyhead.「toostrongforme.colombiancigarettesilike.cubancigarettesaremurder.」

hesmiledfaintly,litanotherpillhimself,andblewsmoke.theguywassogoddameleganthewasbeginningtoannoyme.

「iknowabouttheletter,señor.themozowasafraidtogouptotheroomofthisseñorlennoxaftertheguardawasposted.thecopordick,asyousay.soimyselftookthelettertothecorreo.aftertheshooting,youunderstand.」

「yououghttohavelookedinside.ithadalargepieceofmoneyinit.」

「theletterwassealed,」hesaidcoldly.「elhonornosemuevedeladocomoloscongrejos.thatis,honordoesnotmovesidewiselikeacrab,señor.」

「myapologies.pleasecontinue.」

「señorlennoxhadahundred-pesonoteinhislefthandwheniwentintotheroomandshutthedoorinthefaceoftheguarda.inhisrighthandwasapistol.onthetablebeforehimwastheletter.alsoanotherpaperwhichididnotread.irefusedthenote.」

「toomuchmoney,」isaid,buthedidn’treacttothesarcasm.

「heinsisted.soitookthenotefinallyandgaveittothemozolater.itooktheletteroutunderthenapkinonthetrayfromthepreviousserviceofcoffee.thedicklookedhardatme.buthesaidnothing.iwashalfwaydownthestairswheniheardtheshot.veryquicklyihidtheletterandranbackupstairs.thedickwastryingtokickthedooropen.iusedmykey.señorlennoxwasdead.」

hemovedhisfingertipsgentlyalongtheedgeofthedeskandsighed.「therestnodoubtyouknow.」

「wasthehotelfull?」

「notfull,no.therewerehalfadozenguests.」

「americans?」

「twoamericanosdelnorte.hunters.」

「realgringosorjusttransplantedmexicans?」

hedrewafingertipslowlyalongthefawn-coloredclothabovehisknee.「ithinkoneofthemcouldwellhavebeenofspanishorigin.hespokeborderspanish.veryinelegant.」