All Panama is speaking of those engagements to Senorita Garavel.
Come, then, must I insolt you further?"
Kirk replied, dryly, looking the Spaniard over with, cold blue
eyes. "No! I think you've gone about far enough."
"You riffuse?" exclaimed Ramon, triumphantly.
"Look here!" said Kirk, "I've had enough of this." He advanced
threateningly, and the Spaniard nervously gave way. "I don't fight
duels; it's against the law. In my country it's a crime to kill a
man in cold blood; and we don't tie a fellow up and beat him when
he's helpless and then offer him the HONORABLE satisfaction of
either committing murder or being killed. They're not wearing
duels this season." His hands clenched involuntarily. "I don't
want to hurt you, Alfarez, but I may not be able to help it if you
don't keep out of my way."
He left the fiery little Panamanian still scowling and muttering
threats, and went his way wondering vaguely how his attentions to
Chiquita had become so quickly known. He was informed later in the
afternoon.
As he left the office for the day he was handed a note from Mrs.
Cortlandt requesting him to call at once, and, summoning a coach,
he was driven directly to her house. Unlike the Garavel home, the
house which the Cortlandts had leased was set upon the water-
front, its rear balcony overlooking the sea where it lapped the
foundation of the city wall.
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