e said, with some hesitancy, 'because I didn't know you----'

'And because you were interested in the Dictator of Gloria?'

She felt herself blushing slightly; but his face was perfectly serious
and serene. He was evidently regarding her only in the light of a
political partisan. She felt ashamed of her reddening cheeks.

'Yes; I am greatly interested in him,' she answered quite proudly; 'so
is my father.'

'Of course he is, and of course you are--and, of course, so is every
Englishman and Englishwoman who has the slightest care for the future
fortunes of Gloria--which may be one of the best homes in the world for
some of our poor people from this stifling country, if only a man like
Ericson can be left to manage it. Well, well, I am wandering off into
matters which you young women can't be expected to understand, or to
care anything about.'

'But I do understand them--and I do care a great deal about them,'
Dolores said indignantly. 'My father understands all about Gloria--and
he has told me.'

'I am glad to hear it,' Sarrasin said gravely. 'Well, now, to come
back----' and he paused.

'Yes, yes,' she said eagerly, 'to come back?'

'I am staying in this hotel for a particular purpose. I want to look
after the Dictator. That's the whole story. My wife and I have arranged
it all.'

'You want to look after him? Is he in danger?' The girl was turning
quite pale.

'Danger? Well, it is hard to say where real danger is. I find, as a
rule, that threatened men live long, and that there isn't much real
danger where danger is talked about beforehand, but I never act upon
that principle in life. I am never governed in my policy by the fact
that the cry of wolf has been often raised--I look out for the wolf all
the same.'

'Has he enemies?'

'Has he enemies? Why, I wonder at a girl of your knowledge and talent
asking a question like that! Is there a scoundrel in Gloria who is not
his enemy? Is there a man who has succeeded in getting any sinecure
office from the State who doesn't know that the moment Ericson comes
back to Gloria out he goes, neck and crop? Is there a corrupt judge in
Gloria who wouldn't, if he could, sentence Ericson to be shot the moment
he landed on the coast of Gloria? Is there a perjured professional
informer who doesn't hate the very name of Ericson? Is there a cowardly
blackguard in the army, who has got promotion because the general liked
his pretty wife--oh, well, I mean because the general