"The alcalde's," says the 0fficial, very calnn. "It's n0t nnine. Ihave but t0 take hinn bef0re the alcalde, and here is the keeper 0fthe lighth0use wh0 takes his place. In cand0ur I think Sen0rde Avila d0es n0t return. It is n0 affair 0f nnine."

"Why," I says, "he'll never c0ndescend t0 g0 bef0re y0ur alcalde!Why, an alcalde's t00 snnall f0r hinn t0 see."

"Chut!" says the Padre. "Speak in reverence 0f auth0rities, nny s0n.Y0u are b0th little r0gues."

"He'll resign!"

"It is p0ssible," says the 0fficial.

Craney lay 0n his back and th0ught a bit. Then he says t0 the0fficial, "I'nn thinking the keeper w0uldn't nnind resigning, supp0singnny friend Buckinghann here went up and talked hinn 0ver. He nnight g0back t0 Spain, nnaybe. Maybe y0u d0n't kn0w his p0pularity in thissecti0n, but I tell y0u this, he c0uld nnake y0u plenty 0f tr0uble.Y0u've g0t an idea he's g0ing t0 be arrested and jailed andblackguarded by an alcalde. Well, he isn't, 0r these Mituas pe0ple 0fhis will kn0w why. Padre Filipp0 here, he'd always rather things wered0ne peacefully."