seeing you
in Gloria--I am not mistaken, surely?'

'I was in Gloria,' Captain Sarrasin answered, 'but I left long before
the outbreak of the revolution. I remained there a little time. I think
I saw even then what was coming. I am on your side altogether.'

'Yes, so you were good enough to tell me. Well, have you heard any late
news? You know how my heart is bound up with the fortunes of Gloria?'

'I know very well, and I think I do bring you some news. It is all going
to pieces in Gloria without you.'

'Going to pieces--how can that be?'

'The Republic is torn asunder by faction, and she is going to be annexed
by her big neighbour.'

'The new Republic of Orizaba?'

This was a vast South American state which had started into political
existence as an empire and had shaken off its emperor--sent him home to
Europe--and had set up as a republic of a somewhat aggressive order.

'Yes, Orizaba, of course.'

'But do you really believe, Captain Sarrasin, that Orizaba has any
actual intentions of that kind?'

'I happen to know it for certain,' Captain Sarrasin grimly replied.

'How do you know it, may I ask?'

'Because I have had letters offering me a command in the expedition to
cross the frontier of Gloria.'

The Dictator looked straight into the eyes of Captain Sarrasin. They
were mild, blue, fearless eyes. Ericson read nothing there that he might
not have read in the eyes of Sarrasin's quiet, scholarly, untravelled
brother.

'Captain Sarrasin,' he said, 'I am an odd sort of person, and always
have been--can't help myself in fact. Do you mind my feeling your
pulse?'

'Not in the least,' Sarrasin gravely answered, with as little expression
of surprise about him as if Ericson had asked him whether he did not
think the weather was very fine. He held out a strong sinewy and white
wrist. Ericson laid his finger on the pulse.

'Your pulse as mine,' he said, 'doth temperately keep time, and makes as
healthful music.'

Captain Sarrasin's face lighted.

'You are a Shakespearian?' he said eagerly. 'I am so glad. I am an
old-fashioned person, and I love Shakespeare; that is only another
reason why----'

'Go on, Captain Sarrasin.'

'Why I want to go along with you.'

'But do you want to go along with me, and where?'

'To Gloria, of course. You have not asked me why I refused to give my
services to Orizaba.'

'No; I assumed that you did not care to be the mercenary of an
invasion.'

'Mercenary? No, it was