it HOP SING, pushed off by CONCHO.

Concho. The pagan dolt! But he is important. Ah, if he were wiser,
I should not rid myself of him so quickly! And now for the
schoolmistress,--the sweetheart of Sandy. If these men have not lied,
he is in love with her; and, if he is, he has told her his secret before
now; and she will be swift to urge him to his rights. If he has not told
her--umph! (laughing) it will not be a DAY--an HOUR--before she will
find out if her lover is Alexander Morton, the rich man's son, or
"Sandy," the unknown vagabond. Eh, friend Sandy! It was a woman that
locked up your secret: it shall be a woman, Madre di Dios! who shall
unlock it. Ha! (Goes to door of schoolhouse as door opens, and appears
COL. STARBOTTLE.)

Concho (aside). A thousand devils! the lawyer of the old man Morton.
(Aloud.) Pardon, pardon! I am a stranger. I have lost my way on the
mountain. I am seeking a trail. Senor, pardon!

Starbottle (aside). Another man seeking the road! Ged, I believe he's
lying too. (Aloud.) It is before you, sir, DOWN,--down the mountain.

Concho. A thousand thanks, senor. (Aside.) Perdition catch him! (Aloud.)
Thanks, senor. [Exit R.

Starbottle. Ged, I've seen that face before. Ged, it's Castro's
major-domo. Demn me, but I believe all his domestics have fallen in love
with the pretty schoolma'am.

Enter MISS MARY from schoolhouse.

Miss Mary (slowly refolding letter). You are aware, then, of the
contents of this note; and you are the friend of Alexander Morton, sen.?

Col. Starbottle. Permit me a moment, a single moment,
to--er--er--explain. I am Mr. Morton's legal adviser. There
is--er--sense of--er--responsibility,--er--personal responsibility,
about the term "friend," that at the--er--er--present moment I am
not--er--prepared to assume. The substance of the letter is before you.
I am here to--er--express its spirit. I am here (with great
gallantry) to express the--er--yearnings of cousinly affection. I
am aware--er--that OUR conduct,--if I may use the--er--the plural of
advocacy,--I am aware that--er--OUR conduct has not in the past years
been of--er--er--exemplary character. I am aware that the--er--death
of our lamented cousin, your sainted mother, was--er--hastened--I
may--er--say--pre--cip--itated--by our--er--indiscretion But we are
hereto--er--confess judgment--with--er--er--costs.

Miss Mary (interrupting). In other words, your client, my cousin, having
ruined my father, having turned hi