loan there can be no doubt, Senhor
Conde."

"Perhaps not," said I; "but these are questions I must decline entering
upon. You will yourself perceive that any discussion of them would be
inconvenient and indiscreet."

The diplomatic reserve of this answer checked the warmth of his
importunity, and he bashfully withdrew, leaving me to the undisturbed
consideration of my own thoughts.

I sat till it was already near midnight, gazing on the sea, my eyes
still turned to the track by which the vessel had disappeared, and at
last rose to retire, when, to my amazement, I perceived my friend the
banker, accompanied by another person, approaching towards me.

"Senhor Conde," said he, in a mysterious whisper, "this is his
Excellency the Governor;" and with these words, uttered in all the
reverence of awe, he retired, leaving me face to face with a tall,
dignified-looking personage, whose figure was concealed in the folds of
a great cloak.

In all the formal politeness of his rank and country, the Governor
begged I would be seated, and took his place beside me. He explained how
the banker, one of the richest and most respected men in the Havannah,
had informed him of my gracious intentions respecting them, and the sad
mishap by which my mediation was foiled. He entered at length into the
question of the debt, and all its financial difficulties,--which, even
had they been far less intricate and complicated, would have puzzled a
head which never had the bump arithmetical. How he himself saw his way
through the labyrinth, I know not; but had the sum been a moderate
one, I vow I would rather have paid it myself than investigate it
any farther, such an inextricable mass of complications, doubles, and
difficulties did it involve.

"Thus, you perceive," said he, at the close of a formidable sum of
figures, "that these eighteen millions made no part of the old loan, but
were, in fact, the first deposit of what is called the 'Cuba debt;' not
that it ever should have had that name, which more properly belonged to
the original Poyais three-and-a-half--You understand me?"

"Perfectly; proceed."

"That being the case, our liability is reduced to the sum of
twenty-seven millions on the old four-and-a-quarters."

"Clearly so."

"Now we approach the difficult part of the matter," said he, "and I must
entreat your most marked attention; for here lies the point which has
hitherto proved the stumbling-block in the way of every negotiatio