Don Jose (to CONCHO). Silence, sir! (To SANDY, with dignity.) I
know not the meaning of this masquerade. I only know that you are
NOT the gentleman hitherto known to me as the son of Alexander
Morton. I am here, sir, to demand my rights as a man of property
and a father. I have received this morning a check from the house
of Morton & Son, for the amount of my deposit with them. So far--
in view of this complication--it is well. Who knows? Bueno! But
the signature of Morton & Son to the check is not in the handwriting
I have known. Look at it, sir. (To SANDY, handing check.)

Sandy (examining check). It is my handwriting, sir, and was signed
this morning. Has it been refused?

Don Jose. Pardon me, sir. It has not been presented. With this
doubt in my mind, I preferred to submit it first to you.

Starbottle. A moment, a single moment, sir. While as a--er--
gentleman and a man of honor, I--er--appreciate your motives,
permit me to say, sir, as a lawyer, that your visit is premature.
On the testimony of your own witness, the identification of Mr.
Alexander Morton, jun., is--er--complete; he has admitted the
signature as his own; you have not yet presented the check to the
bank.

Don Jose. Pardon me, Col. Starbottle. It is not all. (To SANDY.)
By a written agreement with Alexander Morton, sen., the hand of my
daughter is promised to his son, who now stands before me, as my
former servant, dismissed from my service for drunkenness.