I don't understand the meaning of
your code message. You have no deal here to put through. You
have made and closed the only deal here about which I have the
honor to know anything."

"But my secretary doesn't yet know the state of affairs here,"
continued Mr. Haynes, gravely, "and he doesn't know that we have
yet bought the _El Sombrero_ Mine. Therefore, his despatch can't
refer to anything else. My private secretary is certainly warning
me not to buy _El Sombrero_ Mine until we have further information."

"But you have bought it," cried Don Luis, in a voice pitched rather
higher than usual. "You have bought it and have the deed to all
this property. The money has been paid, and is now mine, subject
to my order."

"Don Luis," continued the American railway president, "I ask you,
before all my associates, to consider the matter still open until
I can receive further particulars from my private secretary.
If there is any good and sound reason why we should not have bought
this mine--"

"But you have bought it, paid for it, and the money is mine!"
cried Don Luis Montez. "There is no more to be said about it."

"Sir," went on Mr. Haynes, gravely, "there is but one question
of fact that can affect the sale. Suppose--I hate to say it,
but suppose that the mine is not a rich one, not worth any such
price as we paid for it, and that you sold it to us, knowing--"

"The mine is a rich one--one of the richest in Mexico," insisted
Montez, "and you have secured a very great bargain."

"I trust and hope that all that is true," continued Mr. Haynes.
"Yet, if such should not be the case, and if we have bought a
property under conditions that would make it certain swindle had
been perpetrated--"

"Senor!" warned Don Lids, taking a step forward, a deadly light
in his eyes. "Be Careful!"

"I am only stating a supposition," resumed Mr. Haynes, coolly.
"Don Luis, I believe I have stated enough of that supposition
to make it all clear. If that supposition is true, then you would
have to buy the mine back from us again."

"Would I?" sneered the Mexican.

"Yes, Don Luis, or we could bring the matter about in another
way. I know the name of the bank in Mexico City to which you
have transferred the funds received from us. Our attorneys, acting
through Mexican lawyers, can tie that money up and keep it in
the bank until the question has been decided as to whether--"

"Be careful, senor!" again warned Don Luis.

"Si