t him to realize that he was in Chili,
and that he must not be so free in his speech. He always insisted that
this was the nineteenth century, and a man could say what he liked; as
if the nineteenth century had anything to do with Chili in its present
state."

"You don't imagine," said Dupre, with a touch of pallor coming into
his cheeks, "that this is anything serious? It will mean nothing more
than a day or two in prison, at the worst?"

The manager shook his head and said:

"We had better get a carriage and see the President as soon as
possible. I'll undertake to send Lemoine back to Paris, or to put
him on board one of the French iron-clads. But there is no time to be
lost. We can probably get a carriage in the square."

They found a carriage, and drove as quickly as they could to the
residence of the President. At first they were refused admittance; but
finally they were allowed to wait in a small room while their message
was taken to Balmaceda. An hour passed, but still no invitation came
to them from the President. The manager sat silent in a corner, but
Dupre paced up and down the small room, torn with anxiety about his
friend. At last an officer entered the room, and presented them with
the compliments of the President, who regretted that it was impossible
for him to see them that night. He added for their information, by
order of the President, that Lemoine was to be shot at day-break. He
had been tried by court-martial, and condemned to death for sedition.
The President regretted having kept them waiting so long, but the
court-martial had been going on when they arrived, and the President
thought that perhaps they would be interested in the verdict. With
that the officer escorted the two dumfounded men to the door, where
they got into their carriage without a word. The moment they were out
of ear-shot, the manager said to the coachman:

"Drive as quickly as you can to the residence of the French minister."

Every one at the French Legation had retired when the two
panic-stricken men reached there; but after a time the secretary
consented to see them, and on learning the seriousness of the case, he
undertook to arouse his Excellency, and see if anything could be
done. The minister entered the room shortly after, and listened with
interest to what they had to say.

"You have your carriage at the door?" he asked, when they had finished
their recital.

"Yes."

"Then I will take it, and see the Preside