hesatdowninthecustomer’schairandcrossedhisknees.“youwishcertaininformationaboutseñorlennox,iamtold.”

“thelastsceneonly.”

“iwasthereatthetime,señor.ihadapositioninthehotel.”heshrugged.“unimportantandofcoursetemporary.iwasthedayderk.”hespokeperfectenglishbutwithaspanishrhythm.spanish—americanspanishthatis—hasadefiniteriseandfallwhichtoanamericanearseemstohavenothingtodowiththemeaning.it’sliketheswelloftheocean.

“youdon’tlookthetype,”isaid.

“onehasdifficulties.”

“whomailedthelettertome?”

heheldoutaboxofcigarettes.“tryoneofthese.”ishookmyhead.“toostrongforme.colombiancigarettesilike.cubancigarettesaremurder.”

hesmiledfaintly,litanotherpillhimself,andblewsmoke.theguywassogoddameleganthewasbeginningtoannoyme.

“iknowabouttheletter,señor.themozowasafraidtogouptotheroomofthisseñorlennoxaftertheguardawasposted.thecopordick,asyousay.soimyselftookthelettertothecorreo.aftertheshooting,youunderstand.”

“yououghttohavelookedinside.ithadalargepieceofmoneyinit.”

“theletterwassealed,”hesaidcoldly.“elhonornosemuevedeladocomoloscongrejos.thatis,honordoesnotmovesidewiselikeacrab,señor.”

“myapologies.pleasecontinue.”

“señorlennoxhadahundred-pesonoteinhislefthandwheniwentintotheroomandshutthedoorinthefaceoftheguarda.inhisrighthandwasapistol.onthetablebeforehimwastheletter.alsoanotherpaperwhichididnotread.irefusedthenote.”

“toomuchmoney,”isaid,buthedidn’treacttothesarcasm.

“heinsisted.soitookthenotefinallyandgaveittothemozolater.itooktheletteroutunderthenapkinonthetrayfromthepreviousserviceofcoffee.thedicklookedhardatme.buthesaidnothing.iwashalfwaydownthestairswheniheardtheshot.veryquicklyihidtheletterandranbackupstairs.thedickwastryingtokickthedooropen.iusedmykey.señorlennoxwasdead.”

hemovedhisfingertipsgentlyalongtheedgeofthedeskandsighed.“therestnodoubtyouknow.”

“wasthehotelfull?”

“notfull,no.therewerehalfadozenguests.”

“americans?”

“twoamericanosdelnorte.hunters.”

“realgringosorjusttransplantedmexicans?”

hedrewafingertipslowlyalongthefawn-coloredclothabovehisknee.“ithinkoneofthemcouldwellhavebeenofspanishorigin.hespokeborderspanish.veryinelegant.”