Сердца трех / Hearts of three. Уровень 3

A newcomer, a stranger put a ring on Leoncia’s engagement finger! Leoncia, whom to himself he always named the queen of his dreams, engaged herself to a strange Gringo from New York. It was unbelievable, monstrous!

After lunch, Francis wanted to bring to Henry the good news. So he resolutely declined her hospitality to remain for the night and meet Enrico Solano and his sons. Moreover, Francis could not endure the presence of Leoncia. She charmed him, drew him. So Francis departed with a letter to Henry from Leoncia in his pocket.

From the beach, Francis signaled the Angelique to send a boat ashore for him. But suddenly half a dozen horsemen rode down the beach upon him at a gallop. Two men led. The following four had guns. One of the leaders was Torres.

“Now, sirs, tell me, what do you want? My ears, or my mustache?”

“We want you,” answered the leader.

“And who are you?”

“He is the honorable Senor Mariano Vercara e Hijos[36 - Mariano Vercara e Hijos – Мариано Веркара-Рё-Р?С…РѕСЃ], Jefe Politico of San Antonio,” Torres replied.

“Good night,” Francis laughed. “But I am only a passenger. You must talk to the Captain.”

“You are wanted[37 - you are wanted – вас разыскивают] for the murder of Alfaro Solano,” was Torres’ answer. “You didn’t fool me, Henry Morgan. And you are the murderer. I know that some one else. His name is Francis Morgan, and he is not a murderer, but a gentleman.

“Oh!” Francis exclaimed. “But you recognized me, Senor Torres!”

“I was fooled,” Torres admitted sadly. “But only for a moment. Will you come with us?”

“Yes,” Francis answered. “I suppose you’ll hang me at daybreak.”

“Justice is swift in Panama,” the Jefe Politico replied. “We will not hang you at daybreak. Ten o’clock in the morning is more comfortable, don’t you think?”

“Oh, I don’t care,” Francis retorted.

“You will come with us, Senor,” Mariano Vercara e Hijos said. “Take his weapons.”

Francis found himself in a cell with walls five feet thick. It was half past eight in the evening. The trial began at eight. The execution was scheduled at ten next morning.

“The Jefe was right,” Francis acknowledged to himself. “Panama justice moves swiftly.”

The letter given him by Leoncia and addressed to Henry Morgan damned him.