"¶" "This is one of the better hotels." "Fine example of American baroque." "Touché!" "Ah, a lucky hit." "Oh, thank you." "Well, thank you." "Your recklessness leads you to riposte before you parry, Mr. Paladin." "Is that so?" "Nonsense." "If he would only practice more, he would make a superb swordsman." "Well, in my profession, swords are a little bit out of style." "Thank you, Hey Girl." "Franz von Teschen at your service." "Paladin." "You fence?" "Not since I left Austria six weeks ago." "Would-Would you oblige me?" "Well, another time." "I have an engagement." "Franz?" "I-I'm sorry to be abrupt." "Herr Donner and I are here on a delicate mission, and he is concerned about strangers." "I had hoped to speak to you privately." "Well, another time." "I do have an engagement." "Well, break it, sir." "That came all the way from Austria?" "Ah, there you are." "I am prepared to pay well." "Oh." "Well, shall we say this evening at 9:00?" "You will be my guest for dinner." "Thank you." "Franz." "Your room is ready." "They were fencing, Ludwig." "Hmm?" "Uh, Herr Paladin, Herr Donner." "An honor." "Excuse me." "Ah." "Did you hear that?" "A rhyme." ""Donner," "honor."" "This wonderful language of yours is filled with the most agreeable surprises." "Yes, the duke does resemble his cousin, doesn't he?" "Did you know His Imperial Highness?" "Only from his portrait in the Hofburg in Innsbruck." "Well, um, be discreet, Herr Paladin." "His Excellency is traveling incognito." "No one must know who he is." "His secret is safe with me." "Who is that young man?" "An Austrian tourist." "And perhaps Pope was right." ""He's armed without who's innocent within."" "Perhaps." ""Cousin Franz." "Affectionately, Maximilian."" "That's beautiful." "Now, about the Mexican people..." "What makes you so sure they want another emperor?" "But of course they do." "Would you ask why a woman would want a trinket or a child a chocolate?" "Well, Maximilian must have wondered what happened to the Mexican sweet tooth when they stood him up against that stone wall and shot him." "A handful of malcontents." "Ah, but their days are limited." "When I arrive in Mexico," "I will be met by a secret army of loyal subjects." "On my command, they will rise up and march straight to the capital." "Well, with an army at your back, what do you need with me?" "To help me reach the border." "There may be those who would try to stop me." "It would be your job to... to stop them." "This is the brandy you ordered, sir." "Oh, that's..." "that's all." "You may go." "Now..." "Franz, uh, in this country, it's customary to tip the waitress." "What a wonderfully bizarre country." "No, here, allow me." "Hey Girl." "Thank you very much, Mr. Paladin." "Welcome." "So... we plan to leave early in the morning." "Can you be ready at 8:00?" "Mmm..." "Oh." "Franz... you are a very nice young man." "Go home." "Go home to your castle and lock the door, and practice "dip the knee" to your princely heart's content." "But don't stay here." "Don't stay here, unless you're prepared to sacrifice your illusions and possibly even your life." "I will double your fee." "It's not a question of money." "Then what?" "It's an old aversion to helping people make fools of themselves." "Good evening." "Well, Herr Donner, you are full of the most pleasant surprises." "Thank you." "You are most kind." "It's a lovely edition." "Thank you." "I, uh, hope you didn't allow my young friend to talk you into anything foolish." "Well, I hope not, too." "No, you are too droll, Herr Paladin." "How does one talk to such a man?" "Well, you might try forgetting the circumlocutions, addressing yourself to the point." "The point is that I am here to ask you to decline the offer Franz made you." "I would, of course, make it worth your while, hmm?" "I'm listening." "Well, you perhaps wondered about my, uh, position vis-à-vis the duke." "I'm simply an old friend who wants to see him fulfill his destiny." "And I take it you don't think the duke's destiny and I mix." "No." "I don't." "And nothing must be allowed to jeopardize his welcome." "Do you really think the Mexicans are going to welcome him?" "But of course." "Now, Franz is inclined to be a trifle..." "impressionable." "He thinks of you as a colorful and attractive figure, which of course you are." "But not perhaps just the kind of man one would expect to find in a royal entourage." "Do you follow me?" "I believe so." "Gunfighters are not the thing in court circles this year." "So droll." "It's marvelous!" "As long as we agree... please take this for your trouble." "Herr Donner, it has been no trouble at all." "And you and I do not agree." "I still don't understand," "Herr Paladin." "Your refusal seemed so positive." "What made you change your mind?" "Well, let's just call it a feeling that somebody ought to be there to catch you when you fall." "That plus a certain amount of persuasion." "Oh, it's exciting." "Eh, Ludwig?" "Such a strange and savage land." "Tell me again, what is the name of the place we meet the army?" "Los Gatos." "Los Gatos." "Means "the cats."" ""The cats"?" "But how marvelous!" "The ancient crest of my... of my family is symbolized by a cat." "Well, a lion, to be exact, but-but still a cat." "That is a good omen, eh, Ludwig?" "Oh... we must make a great, colorful banner to be carried by our victorious troops." "Los Gatos." "Well, hail, the conquering hero comes." "Welcome, señores." "Visitors are not so many in Los Gatos." "Well, perhaps they're sensitive to warm welcomes." "I am a careful man, señor." "Come here." "Eh, slowly." "General Mendez." "Pero, Señor Donner..." "Bienvenido, señor." "Uh... don't tell me you two have already met?" "Well, such an historic occasion demands more ceremony." "His Grace, Duke Franz von Teschen..." "Commander of the Mexican Army of Liberation," "General Pablo Mendez." "General." "El duque." "Oh..." "I apologize, Your Excellency." "This-This is a great day for us." "We have waited for nothing else but this." "Now, we can begin the fight to liberate our people and, uh, light a new dawn to our country." "My army and my loyalty are at your command." "Thank you, General." "I shall rely heavily on both." "Thank you." "And, uh, this gentleman?" "Why, uh, he is, um..." "Señor Paladin is my..." "Military advisor." "Yes." "Oh, yes." "Yes, of course." "Uh, perhaps Your Excellency would like a drink." "A toast to our new glory." "Uh, if you don't mind, General, it's been a long trip, and His Excellency is very tired." "I'm sure you understand." "Of course, of course, I understand." "Tomorrow." "Tomorrow, we shall have our toast." "Tomorrow, I suggest we have a general staff meeting." "With Your Excellency's permission, of course." "A general staff meeting?" "It's a good idea." "Well, gentlemen, this way." "This way, if you please." "Enseñalos sus cuartos a los señores enseguida, pero enseguida." "Yes, sir." "This way." "Good night." "Traiga los baules." "¡Ahora listo!" "You, uh, did not bring the arms with you, señor?" "The arms?" "Sí." "As Señor Donner promised." "Oh..." "The arms." "Of course." "Buenas tardes." "What do you think of General Mendez?" "The man represents an army." "That is the important thing." "How did you happen to get tied up with him in the first place?" "Through Ludwig." "He swears Mendez is a capable officer." "I have to trust his judgment." "Ludwig seems to have a good deal to say about everything." "Are you sure that's entirely wise?" "Ludwig's friendship for me goes back many years." "Why do you not say this to his face?" "Franz, do you know what you're doing?" "Or are you just playing games?" "You have done your job, Herr Paladin." "You may leave whenever you are ready." "With your permission, may I stay the night?" "As you wish." "Thank you." "How long do I play this stupid game?" "Only until the guns arrive." "He could still ruin everything if we're not careful." "Then where are these guns?" "If you are playing tricks with me, Donner..." "Ah." "Good morning, Franz." "Oh, I-I thought we were to have a staff meeting this morning." "Uh, well, General Mendez was just explaining to me that, uh, his staff- indeed, his entire army- is camped across the river in Mexican territory." "Well, that's fine." "Why don't we go there?" "That. uh... would not be wise, Your Excellency." "Why not?" "Well..." "To set foot on Mexican soil before your plans are made in every detail could lead to disaster." "Very well." "Let's start making our plans." "Yes." "Good idea." "General?" "Thank you." "Now, General Mendez, may we see your tactical maps of the area?" "Maps?" "Everything like that is with the army..." "Across the river." "Yes, I know." "General, do you plan to use your cavalry in support of your foot soldiers or in advance of them?" "Why, uh, support, maybe." "Maybe, uh, advance." "And what precautions have you taken in case of a counterattack against your assault line, to prevent your flank from being turned?" "My flank?" "Oh, yes." "Yes." "Uh, Herr Paladin, your scholarship is truly remarkable." "But I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the questions to General Mendez." "Plans, Herr Donner?" "That is what we were discussing, wasn't it?" "Plans, yes, but... not minor tactical considerations, which I'm sure are best left to General Mendez." "Well, I wish I were equally assured, Ludwig." "Our whole cause depends on it." "And it is in good hands." "Perhaps His Excellency would feel a little more secure if he could see some of the men who are to fight under his banner." "Oh, there's no doubt of it." "General?" "Absolutely." "No doubt." "He shall see the finest fighting men in the world." "Well, General, since His Highness cannot come to his troops, suppose we bring his troops to His Highness?" "Say, ten or 12 men?" "We'll call them a sort of honor guard." "And he can review them this evening?" "This evening, say, at sundown?" "I don't see what good..." "Well, I think it is a very good suggestion." "You will see to it." "Please." "I'm sure the general will be glad to arrange the review." "Until sundown, then." "Donner promised to sell you enough arms to conquer all of Mexico, didn't he, Mendez?" "Why do you suppose he hasn't delivered?" "What do you know of these guns?" "Only what your friend here has told me." "Excuse me." "I thought I told you to be silent about this." "I am finished bobbing up and down for this toy prince." "Not if you want those guns, you're not." "They will be here before the day is over." "What about this honor guard parade?" "Arrange it." "Your troops are ready to be reviewed." "There they are, Franz." "Finest fighting men in the world." "And who is to say they are not, until they are tried in battle?" "Well, they will be sorely tried if they intend to use this piece of equipment." "This thing loaded?" "But of course." "I have not the least doubt that these men make up in spirit and devotion what they may lack in training and equipment." "See?" "The people love me!" "Now that is what will win against any odds." "Oh?" "¿Quien habla inglés?" "Yo, señor." "His Majesty welcomes you and wonders how long you have waited for this day." "Waited?" "Yes." "For Duke Franz to come and light a new dawn for Mexico?" "I wait for nothing, señor." "Que cuanto tiempo tenemos esperándolos." "Follow me to the warehouse." "Hurry!" "This way!" "This way, the wagons." "Hurry." "This way." "Hee!" "Hurry." "Hurry." "This way." "Hee!" "This way, gentlemen." "Hee!" "This way!" "Franz?" "Hurry." "This way." "Hee!" "Hurry." "Hurry." "This way." "Hee!" "This way, gentlemen." "Hee!" "This way!" "Thank you, sir." "Well, Franz, now you know why you're here." "The Austrian government furnishes those arms because you're here to make it look legitimate." "No." "Oh, yes." "And now your friend Ludwig sells them to the general for a fortune." "No, no." "The people love me." "That's why I'm here." "Tell him." "Tell him you are here because of your love for me." "Is that not so?" "No, you tell him." "Tell him." "Is that not so?" "I'm sorry, señor." "I'm here because a man paid me ten pesos to come." "There you have it, Franz." "The cold, bitter truth." "Excuse me." "The weapons... they must not have the weapons." "A gun... someone give me a gun." "¿Con su permiso?" "Look out!" "All right, Mendez, come on out of there!" "No?" "!" "Franz?" "The M-Mexican?" "He's dead." "You see, Paladin?" "I see what?" "He gave his life for me." "Yeah, Franz." "¶ "Have gun will travel"" "¶ Reads the card of a man" "¶ A knight without armor" "¶ In a savage land" "¶ His fast gun for hire" "¶ Heeds the calling wind" "¶ A soldier of fortune ¶" "¶ Is the man called Paladin" "¶ Paladin, Paladin" "¶ Where do you roam?" "¶ Paladin, Paladin" "¶ Far, far from home."