“I have a new boss,” Martín said.
“Oh, really?”
“General Obregon. You know the name?”
“I’ve heard it. When did that happen?”
“It hasn’t been announced officially yet, but that should come in the next few days.”
Leibermann grunted.
“Actually, a little bird told me that he might drop by his new office, unofficially, of course, this afternoon,” Martín said.
“Where no doubt he will find you with your nose to the grindstone?”
“You know, Milton, first impressions?”
“Of course.”
Leibermann’s Spanish was fluent, but his accent marked him as neither a Porteño (a native of Buenos Aires) nor an Argentine. His Spanish was in fact Puerto Rican—more precisely, the modified Puerto Rican Spanish spoken in Spanish Harlem.
“And I have learned something else that has not yet been made public, and which I tell you in confidence,” Martín said. “The Cardinal Archbishop has granted permission for the Anglican priest…what’s his name?”
“Cashley-Price?”
“…Cashley-Price to participate in the wedding of our friend Cletus Frade.”
“Ah, young love!” Leibermann said. “I’m really impressed, Bernardo. I wish my budget were large enough to have someone in the Cardinal’s office. I’ll bet all sorts of interesting things go on there.”
Martín laughed. “Actually, it’s my wife’s sister. And I learned that quite by accident.”
“That happens to me a lot, too,” Leibermann said.
“Recently, for example?”
“You do know that Mr. Graham has left Argentina?”
“I knew the day the Colonel left,” Martín said.
“The Colonel?”
Martín smiled and shook his head.
“I was thinking, when I heard that our friend Cletus was going to be allowed to marry, that it would really be a shame if something happened to…what shall I say? Interrupt his newlywed bliss.”
“Yes, it would.”
“I don’t know how much General Obregon knows about Cletus and his friends, but I’m going to have to tell him what I know. And I have no idea what he’ll decide to do about it. Or them.”
“I, of course, have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Of course not. I was speaking hypothetically. And, speaking hypothetically, I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything about his plans? That he might, for example, wish to take his bride to the United States?”
“I don’t think that’s very likely to happen, Bernardo.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“Speaking hypothetically, what is it that you know about Cletus that you have to tell General Obregon?”