"I trust I need not
insist upon seeing the prisoner?" He raised his brows with a stare
of inquiry that caused the other to reply, hastily:
"Of a certainty not, senor."
"Then take us to him."
"I will spare your lady the painful sight of the prison-house. The
prisoner shall be fetch' with all despatch."
"We will see him alone."
Again the commandant hesitated, while his bright eyes searched
their faces with a sudden uneasy curiosity. "I am fear soch t'ing
is not permit'."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mrs. Cortlandt, unable longer to restrain
herself. "We know the law quite as well or perhaps better than
you, Senor Alfarez. If you wish, Mr. Cortlandt will get permission
from the President. You have a telephone?"
"Oh, soch is farthes' remove' from my thoughts," quickly
interposed the commandant, with his most graceful bow. "If it is
in my power to oblige, w'at matter the law? Pouf! W'at I mean is
this: Our prisoner is not what you call seeck, nor is he ver'
well. He is resis' the officer by force an' he is injure'--oh, but
only a leetle--it is not'ing. One is truly foolish for resis' the
policemans, yes?" He shook his dark head sadly. "I am desolate to
'ear of soch t'ing; it is so useless to stroggle wit' the officer
in disbursement of duty; but you Americans are so brave! I am
force' to admire this prisoner; he is soch a strong fellow.
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