He was in his shirt-sleeves, and he wore the rope-soled sandals of the Spanish peasant, but he was entirely at his ease.

He made the customary little speech of welcome with so simple a dignity and so manifest a sincerity that Hillyard could hardly doubt him afterwards.
"It is my honour to welcome you not merely as my chief, but as an Englishman.

I am poor, and I take my pay, but Senor Baeza will assure you that for twenty-five years I have been the friend of England.

And there are thousands and thousands of poor Spaniards like myself, who love England, because its law-courts are just, because there is a real freedom there, because political power is not the opportunity of oppression." The little speech was spoken with great rapidity and with deep feeling; and, having delivered it, Ramon seated himself on the side of the table opposite to Hillyard and Baeza and waited.
"It is about Pontiana Tabor," said Hillyard.

"He is making a mistake ?" "No, senor; he is lying," and he used the phrase which has no exact equivalent in the English.