ckmailer does
not dream of bluntly demanding money, or exposing his knowledge that he
will get it. He pleads decently the poverty of his family and the long
illness of his mother-in-law; and with the same decency the blackmailed
yields to compassion and opens his purse. There is a gentlemanly
reticence to be observed in these matters and Hillyard was well aware of
the rules. He struck quite a different note.

"I shall speak frankly to you, Senor Medina, as one _caballero_ to
another"; and Jose Medina bowed and smiled.

"I put my cards upon the table. I ask you whether in your heart you are
for the Germans or for us."

Jose Medina hitched his chair a little closer and holding up one hand
with fingers spread ticked off his points, as he spoke them, with the
other.

"Let us see! First, you come to me, senor, saying you are English, and
speaking Spanish with the accent of Valencia. Good! I might reply,
senor, how do I know? I might ask you how I am to be sure that when that
British flag is hauled down from your yacht outside the bay over there,
it is not a German one which should take its place. Good! But I do not
make these replies. I accept your word as a _caballero_ that you are
English and not an enemy of England laying a trap for me. Good!" He took
off his eye-glasses and polished them.

"Now listen to me!" he continued. "I am a Spaniard. We of Spain have
little grievances against England and France. But these are matters for
the Government, not for a private person. And the Government bids us be
neutral. Good! Now I speak as a private person. For me England means
opportunity for poor men to become great and rich. You may say I have
become rich without the opportunities of England. I answer I am one in
many thousands. England means Liberty, and within the strict limits of
my neutrality I will do what a man may for that great country."

Hillyard listened and nodded. The speech was flowing and spoken with
great fervour. It might mean much. It might mean nothing at all. It
might be the outcome of conviction. But it might again be nothing more
than the lip-service of a man who knew very well that England and France
could squeeze him dry if they chose.

"I wish," said Hillyard cordially, "that the captains of the ports of
Spain spoke also with your voice."

Jose Medina neither assumed an ignorance of the German leanings of the
port officials nor expressed any assent. But, as if he had realised the
thought which mu