a steady voice. "I sent for you
yesterday, intending to ask you to release the man. I had terms then
which would have advantaged you greatly. You were afraid to see me
until you had evolved your plans of opposition. Only a fixed and
devilish hatred, nourished by you against a harmless priest who
possessed your secrets, doomed him to die to-day. But we will pass
that for the present. I have here my demands for the aid I have
furnished you. You may look them over." He held out some typewritten
sheets to Wenceslas.

The churchman glanced hastily over them; then handed them back with a
smile.

"With certain modifications," he said smoothly. "The terms on which
peace is concluded will scarcely admit of--"

"Very well," returned Ames quietly. "And now, La Libertad?"

Wenceslas laughed. "_En manos muertas_, my friend," he replied. "It
was your own idea."

"And the emerald concession?"

"Impossible! A government monopoly, you know," said His Grace easily.
"You see, my friend, it is a costly matter to effect the escape of
state prisoners. As things stand now, your little trick of last night
quite protects me. For, first you instruct me, long ago, to place the
weak little Jose in San Fernando; and I obey. Then you suffer a change
of heart, and slip down here to release the man, who has become a
state prisoner. That quite removes you from any claims upon us for a
share of the spoils of war. I take it, you do not wish to risk
exposure of your part in this four years' carnage?"

Ames drew a sigh. Then he pulled himself together. "Wenceslas," he
said, "I am not the man with whom you dealt in these matters. He is
dead. I have but one thing more to say, and that is that I renounce
all claims upon you and your Government, excepting one. La Libertad
mine was owned by the Rincon family. It was rediscovered by old
Rosendo, and the title transferred to his foster-daughter. Its
possession must remain with her and her associates. There is no
record, so you have informed me, to the effect that the Church
possesses this mine."

"But, my friend, there shall be such a record to-day," laughed
Wenceslas. "And, in your present situation, you will hardly care to
contest it."

Ames smiled. He now had the information which he had been seeking. The
title to the famous mine lay still with the Simiti company. He pressed
the call-button attached to his chair. The door opened, and Don Jorge
entered, leading the erstwhile little newsboy, Jose d