deny. He is a desperate man: he will perhaps
attack me. Eh! Ah! (Drawing revolver.)

Don Jose. Put up your foolish weapon. The sight of the father he has
deceived will be more terrible to him than the pistol of the spy.

Enter COL. STARBOTTLE, C.

Starbottle. Mr. Alexander Morton, Jun., will be with you in a moment.
(Takes attitude by door, puts his hand in his breast, and inflates
himself.)

Concho (to DON JOSE, aside). It is the bullying lawyer. They will try to
outface us, my patron; but we shall triumph. (Aloud.) He comes, eh!--Mr.
Alexander Morton, gentlemen! I will show you a cheat, an impostor!

Enter, in correct, precise morning dress, SANDY MORTON. There is in his
make-up and manner a suggestion of the father.

Concho (recoiling, aside). Diego! The real son. (Aloud, furiously.)
It is a trick to defeat justice,--eh!--a miserable trick! But it shall
fail, it shall fail!

Col. Starbottle. Permit me, a moment,--a single moment. (To Concho.) You
have--er--er--characterized my introduction of this--er--gentleman as
a "cheat" and an "imposture." Are you prepared to deny that this is
Alexander Morton?

Don Jose (astonished, aside). These Americanos are of the Devil! (Aloud
and sternly.) Answer him, Concho, I command you.

Concho (in half-insane rage). It is Alexander Morton; but it is a
trick,--a cowardly trick! Where is the other impostor, this Mr. John
Oakhurst?

Sandy (advancing with dignity and something of his father's cold
manner). He will answer for himself, when called for. (To DON JOSE.) You
have asked for me, sir: may I inquire your business?

Concho. Eh! It is a trick,--a trick!

Don Jose (to CONCHO). Silence, sir! (To SANDY, with dignity.) I know
not the meaning of this masquerade. I only know that you are NOT the
gentleman hitherto known to me as the son of Alexander Morton. I am
here, sir, to demand my rights as a man of property and a father. I have
received this morning a check from the house of Morton & Son, for the
amount of my deposit with them. So far--in view of this complication--it
is well. Who knows? Bueno! But the signature of Morton & Son to the
check is not in the handwriting I have known. Look at it, sir. (To
SANDY, handing check.)

Sandy (examining check). It is my handwriting, sir, and was signed this
morning. Has it been refused?

Don Jose. Pardon me, sir. It has not been presented. With this doubt in
my mind, I preferred to submit it first to you.

Starbottle. A momen