Page:The Road to Monterey (1925).pdf/267

 "Yes, and you are a traitor in the core of your heart! I would report you to the general for half"

"No? Haven't you heard? Impossible that you haven't heard!"

The speaker raised his voice above the subdued murmuring, in his surprise, what seemed his avidity, to spread a piece of news. He was of the common class, a thin, acidulous man. The low babbling of voices fell silent as this man drew himself up and looked around on his neighbors, two hundred or more of them now, gathered before the church.

"What is it, innkeeper?" the one called Don Ambrosio demanded, out of his position of authority, it seemed.

"I thought everybody knew; I thought it must have spread like oil on water," the innkeeper said. "He came last night to my hotel, the messenger who brought the news to the governor. It is of so great"

"What foolishness!" said Don Ambrosio. "Speak!"

"The Americans, Don Ambrosio," said the innkeeper.

"What of them, animal?"

"They have taken Monterey!" said the innkeeper with triumphant malevolence, it seemed, stretching himself to his greatest height, straining to tiptoes to fairly throw the news in Don Ambrosio's face.