Yet he was keen and self-possessed as well.

While he held the pen in his hand be turned to the Mexican with one of his pleasantest smiles.
"Don Luis," said the young engineer, "I feel certain that you did not wholly understand what I said yesterday.

What I meant to make clear was that an engineer's signature to a report is his written word of honor that every word in the report is true, to his own knowledge.

As I merely transcribed this report from your own, and have not yet had sufficient opportunity to prove to myself the value of the mine, I could not in honor sign this report as yet.

As a man of honor you will certainly understand my position." "But you are too particular on a point of honor," insisted Don Luis Montez, with a shrug of his shoulders.