“I beg that all of you gentlemen will remain,” urged Senor Honda.

“I wish to show you every courtesy, senor,” said Montez, quickly, “but it seems to me that you are taking the liberty of giving orders in my home.”

“Have you sold your mine?” asked Honda.

“Yes,” Montez acknowledged.

“And this estate was part of the mine property?”

“Yes.”

“Then I would suggest, Don Luis,” Honda answered, with a smile, “that this place is no longer your home.”

“Senor, are you making fun of me?” demanded Don Luis, with heightening color.

“By no means, Don Luis.  But you have observed that I have an escort of our country’s troops.”

“Assuredly.”

“From that what would you infer?”

“You may very likely hold some government commission,” guessed Don Luis.

“Assuredly I do,” Honda replied.

“In the state of Bonista especially?”

“Even so.”

“Then if you hold a commission in the state of Bonista,” replied Don Luis Monte; “you must represent my very good friend, his excellency, the governor of this state.”

“Just at present the governor of Bonista is in difficulties,” hinted Senor Manuel Honda.

“How?” demanded Don Luis.

“Yes; in difficulties,” continued the visitor.  “At least, his excellency, the governor, is not able to leave his house.”

“Ah!  He is ill, then?”

“Ill in spirit, yes,” smiled Senor Honda.

“Will you be good enough to explain?” Montez asked, anxiously.

“Don Luis, it was I, Manuel Honda, who confined his excellency to his official dwelling and placed a guard about the buildings.”

“Oh?  Is there a revolution, then, in the state of Bonista?”

“None that I know of,” Honda rejoined.  “Don Luis, I am from the national capital.  I represent the government of the Republic of Mexico, and I have considerable power in this state.  I am solely in command, at present, of all the national troops within this state.  These army officers will assure you that I hold a national commission to investigate affairs even in this remote state of Bonista.  I could show you my credentials from the national government, if it were worth while.”

“Then will you be good enough, Senor Honda, to tell me what you wish here.”

“Don Luis, I am here because I believe this to be one of the central points in the investigation that I am about to hold.  I will come to the point at once.  You have sold your mining property here.  One of my first acts will be to make sure that you do not draw the proceeds of the sale from any Mexican bank until after the national government is satisfied.”

“That is a high-handed proceeding, Senor Honda!” cried Montez, a deadly glitter in his eyes.

“It is such a proceeding as a national government may take at need,” replied Senor Honda, calmly.  “Of course, Don Luis, if your conduct in selling the mine is found to be blameless, then you will soon be able to use your money in any way that you please.  But, first of all, the government must be satisfied.”