What do you say?"
"Senor Craney," said the keeper slowly, "are you asking me if
I accept the acknowledgment of my rights? I do not understand a
business proposition. I do not understand how the peasants have
arrived suddenly, as you state, at this conviction of their
obligations."
"Just so," says Craney. "That comes of having a capable agent. I
talked to them and they saw reason. Fact is, though, the idea seems
to have been growing on them for some years."
The keeper looked at me, and I was studying different sides of
Craney's scheme. I began: "It might mean the vineyards of Aragon. All
the same, it's a queer business."
He started and muttered, "The vineyards of Aragon! My Madrid!" and
dropped his head.
Craney winked and we went down.
I've heard it said that Francisco Pizarro was surprised when he
found he'd conquered Peru with only a few objections.
Well, if we had any trouble in this business, it was only Craney
that had it from the start, and he appeared to enjoy himself. He was
off most of the time, pattering around on his shaggy grey donkey, and
left me to take in and stow away those bags of cocoa beans. I used to
sit in front of the shed, which was close to the shore, and smoke and
admire the world.
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