"The alcalde's," says the official, very calm. "It's not mine. I
have but to take him before the alcalde, and here is the keeper of
the lighthouse who takes his place. In candour I think Senor
de Avila does not return. It is no affair of mine."
"Why," I says, "he'll never condescend to go before your alcalde!
Why, an alcalde's too small for him to see."
"Chut!" says the Padre. "Speak in reverence of authorities, my son.
You are both little rogues."
"He'll resign!"
"It is possible," says the official.
Craney lay on his back and thought a bit. Then he says to the
official, "I'm thinking the keeper wouldn't mind resigning, supposing
my friend Buckingham here went up and talked him over. He might go
back to Spain, maybe. Maybe you don't know his popularity in this
section, but I tell you this, he could make you plenty of trouble.
You've got an idea he's going to be arrested and jailed and
blackguarded by an alcalde. Well, he isn't, or these Mituas people of
his will know why. Padre Filippo here, he'd always rather things were
done peacefully."
"Surely," says the Padre, "surely."
"You'd better let us arrange it. Besides, in that case it might
interest you--say, ten dollars' worth of interest.
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