But Gilbert shook his head. "Not for me, thank you," he smiled.
Lopez merely shrugged his shoulders. "So! I was afraid!"
"But how did you get ahead so fast?" young Jones wanted to know. "That's
what sticks me."
The bandit laughed. "Zat is simple. You see, one day ze lieutenant she are
killed. Soon I become a lieutenant. Nex' day, ze captain. So I am captain,
Byme-bye, ze major--so I became major. Pretty damn soon ze colonel--so I am
colonel. I kill ze general for myself." As he spoke, he lifted the chair
at the table, and brought it down on the floor with a bang.
"What!" cried Gilbert, at this description of an opera-bouffe army.
"But we shall not talk of me," Lopez said. "We shall spik of you. 'Ow you
been since I seen you, what?" He tossed away his cigarette.
Gilbert offered him another of his own.
"No, gratias; zat's for peon. Zese from ze swell hotel National an
Torreon--zay are good. I steal zem myself," pulling out his case and
lighting another. He pushed his chair so that he could see young Jones
better. "Well, old frand, how you feel zis long time? Eh?"
"I?" said Gilbert. He smiled a little, and looked significantly about the
room.
Lopez caught the look.
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