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that his patent medicines had effected a certain peaceful
revolutionary movement in San Buenaventura。 A simple and
superstitious community that had steadily resisted the practical
domestic and agricultural American improvements； succumbed to the
occult healing influences of the Panacea and Jones's Bitters。 The
virtues of a mysterious balsam； more or less illuminated with a
colored mythological label； deeply impressed them； and the
exhibition of a circular； whereon a celestial visitant was
represented as descending with a gross of Rogers' Pills to a
suffering but admiring multitude； touched their religious
sympathies to such an extent that the good Padre Jose was obliged
to warn them from the pulpit of the diabolical character of their
heresies of healingwith the natural result of yet more
dangerously advertising Ezekiel。 There were those too who spoke
under their breath of the miraculous efficacy of these nostrums。
Had not Don Victor Arguello； whose respectable digestion； exhausted
by continuous pepper and garlic； failed him suddenly； received an
unexpected and pleasurable stimulus from the New England rum； which
was the basis of the Jones Bitters？ Had not the baker； tremulous
from excessive aguardiente； been soothed and sustained by the
invisible morphia； judiciously hidden in Blogg's Nerve Tonic？ Nor
had the wily Ezekiel forgotten the weaker sex in their maiden and
maternal requirements。 Unguents； that made silken their black but
somewhat coarsely fibrous tresses； opened charming possibilities to
the Senoritas； while soothing syrups lent a peaceful repose to many
a distracted mother's household。 The success of Ezekiel was so
marked as to justify his return at the end of three weeks with a
fresh assortment and an undiminished audacity。
It was on his second visit that the sceptical； non…committal policy
of Senor Mateo was sorely tried。 Arriving at the posada one night；
Ezekiel became aware that his host was engaged in some mysterious
conference with a visitor who had entered through the ordinary
public room。 The view which the acute Ezekiel managed to get of
the stranger； however； was productive of no further discovery than
that he bore a faint and disreputable resemblance to Blandford； and
was handsome after a conscious； reckless fashion； with an air of
mingled bravado and conceit。 But an hour later； as Corwin was
taking the cooler air of the veranda before retiring to one of the
miraculous beds of the posada； he was amazed at seeing what was
apparently Blandford himself emerge on horseback from the alley；
and after a quick glance towards the veranda； canter rapidly up the
street。 Ezekiel's first impression was to call to him； but the
sudden recollection that he parted from his old master on
confidential terms only three days before in San Francisco； and
that it was impossible for him to be in the pueblo； stopped him
with his fingers meditatively in his beard。 Then he turned in to
the posada； and hastily summoned Mateo。
The gentleman presented himself in a state of such profound
scepticism that it seemed to have already communicated itself to
his shoulders； and gave him the appearance of having shrugged
himself into the room。
〃Ha'ow long ago did Mr。 Johnson get here？〃 asked Corwin； lazily。
〃Ahpossiblythen there has been a Mr。 Johnson？〃 This is a
polite doubt of his own perceptions and a courteous acceptance of
his questioner's。
〃Wa'al； I guess so。 Considerin' I jest saw him with my own eyes；〃
returned Ezekiel。
〃Ah！〃 Mateo was relieved。 Might he congratulate the Senor Corwin；
who must be also relieved； and shake his respected hand。 Bueno。
And then he had met this Senor Johnson？ doubtless a friend？ And he
was well？ and all were happy？
〃Look yer； Mattayo！ What I wanter know ez THIS。 When did that
man； who has just ridden out of your alley； come here？ Sabe that
it's a plain question。〃
Ah surely； of the clearest comprehension。 Bueno。 It may have been
last weekor even this weekor perhaps yesterdayor of a
possibility to…day。 The Senor Corwin； who was wise and omniscient；
would comprehend that the difficulty lay in deciding WHO was that
man。 Perhaps a friend of the Senor Corwinperhaps only one who
LOOKED like him。 There existedmight Mateo point outa doubt。
Ezekiel regarded Mateo with a certain grim appreciation。 〃Wa'al；
is there anybody here who looks like Johnson？〃
Again there were the difficulty of ascertaining perfectly how the
Senor Johnson looked。 If the Senor Johnson was Americano；
doubtless there were other Americanos who had resembled him。 It
was possible。 The Senor Corwin had doubtless observed for a little
space a caballero who was here； as it were； in the instant of the
appearance of Senor Johnson？ Possibly there was a resemblance； and
yet
Corwin had certainly noticed this resemblance； but it did not suit
his cautious intellect to fall in with any prevailing scepticism of
his host。 Satisfied in his mind that Mateo was concealing
something from him； and equally satisfied that he would sooner or
later find it out； he grinned diabolically in the face of that
worthy man； and sought the meditation of his miraculous couch。
When he had departed； the sceptic turned to his wife：
〃This animal has been sniffing at the trail。〃
〃Trulybut Mother of Godwhere is the discretion of our friend。
If he will continue to haunt the pueblo like a lovesick chicken； he
will get his neck wrung yet。〃
Following out an ingenious idea of his own； Ezekiel called the next
day on the Demorests； and in some occult fashion obtained an
invitation to stay under their hospitable roof during his sojourn
in Buenaventura。 Perfectly aware that he owed this courtesy more
to Joan than to her husband； it is probable that his grim enjoyment
was not diminished by the fact； while Joan； for reasons of her own；
preferred the constraint which the presence of another visitor put
upon Demorest's uxoriousness。 Of late； too； there were times when
Dona Rosita's naive intelligence； which was not unlike the
embarrassing perceptions of a bright and half…spoiled child； was in
her way； and she would willingly have shared the young lady's
company with her husband had Demorest shown any sympathy for the
girl。 It was in the faint hope that Ezekiel might in some way
beguile Rosita's wandering attention that she had invited him。 The
only difficulty lay in his uncouthness； and in presenting to the
heiress of the Picos a man who had been formerly her own servant。
Had she attempted to conceal that fact she was satisfied that
Ezekiel's independence and natural predilection for embarrassing
situations would have inevitably revealed it。 She had even gone so
far as to consider the propriety of investing him with a poor
relationship to her family； when Dona Rosita herself happily
stopped all further trouble。 On her very first introduction to
him； that charming young lady at once accepted him as a lunatic
whose brains were turned by occult； scientific； and medical study！
Ah！ she； Rosita； had heard of such cases before。 Had not a
paternal ancestor of hers； one Don Diego Castro； believed he had
discovered the elixir of youth