Сердца трех / Hearts of Three

Yet will I divide fairly with you out of the success of our venture.’

The Jefe nodded acquiescence, then said:

�Will it be as much as a thousand gold you will get?’

�I think so. Surely the pig of an Irish stock-gambler could pay me no less a sum, and five hundred is yours if pig Francis leaves his bones in San Antonio.’

�Will it be as much as a hundred thousand gold?’ was the Jefe’s next query.

Torres laughed as if at a joke.

�It must be more than a thousand,’ the other persisted.

�And he may be generous,’ Torres responded., �He may even give me five hundred over the thousand, half of which, naturally, as I have said, will be yours as well.’

�I shall go from here immediately to the jail,’ the Jefe announced. �You may trust me, Señor Torres, as I trust you. Come. We will go at once, now, you and I, and you may see for yourself the preparation I shall make for this Francis Morgan’s reception. I have not yet lost my cunning with a rifle.

He stood up, tossing his cigarette away with a show of determined energy. But, half way across the room, a ragged boy, panting and sweating, plucked his sleeve and whined:

�I have information. You will pay me for it, most high Señor? I have run all the way.’

�I’ll have you sent to San Juan for the buzzards to peck your carcass for the worthless carrion that you are,’ was the reply.

The boy quailed at the threat, then summoned courage from his emptiness of belly and meagerness of living and from his desire for the price of a ticket to the next bull-fight. �You will remember I brought you the information, Señor. I ran all the way until I am almost dead, as you can behold, Señor. I will tell you, but you will remember it was I who ran all the way and told you first.

�Yes, yes, animal, I will remember. But woe to you if I remember too well. What is the trifling information? It may not be worth a centavo. And if it isn’t I’ll make you sorry the sun ever shone on you. And buzzard-picking of you at San Juan will be paradise compared with what I shall visit on you.’

�The jail,’ the boy quavered. �The strange Gringo, the one who was to be hanged yesterday, has blown down the side of the jail.