much to trust to you,--and yet, my doings are so mixed
up with the affairs of other people that to some extent I am
tongue-tied. I may tell you, however, that I am a secret agent of the
government, to which I have volunteered my services solely because I
love peace and hate war, and am desirous of doing all I can to promote
the first and abate the last. The idea may appear to you Quixotic,
but--"

"Pardon me, Senhor Pedro," interrupted Lawrence, promptly. "I think you
the reverse of Quixotic. I honour you for your sentiments, and
sympathise with you most heartily. Do I not remember that it is
written, `Blessed are the peacemakers,' and also, `Scatter thou the
people that delight in war?'"

"Yes, I have gathered from your conversation that such are your
sentiments, but do not misunderstand me. I am not of those who would
have peace at any price. I believe in the right of self-defence. I
recognise the right of oppressed nations to rise up and draw the sword
in order to free themselves from tyrants; in short, I believe that there
are some things that are worse even than war; but while I concede so
much, I hold that most of the wars recorded in history have been
undertaken without just cause, many of them without any real or obvious
cause at all, too many of them with a distinctly bad cause. Even in the
present day, and among Christian nations, there is far too little
tendency to appeal to arbitration, which is the only legitimate way for
_reasonable_ men to settle any dispute or quarrel. Does your sympathy
go with me thus far?"

Lawrence, with a glow of enthusiasm on his face, extended his hand, and,
grasping that of his companion, shook it warmly.

"I go with you in every word, Pedro. You are a man after my own heart;
and I say, God prosper you in your good work wherever you go!"

Manuela, who was standing near at the time, looked up at the
enthusiastic youth quickly. Her knowledge of English must have been
improving, despite the badness of her pronunciation, for she seemed to
understand the conversation, and to regard Lawrence with profound
interest.

The youth was so carried away with his feelings, however, that he did
not observe the girl's look or expression.

"That is well," Pedro said, with a pleased look, as he returned his
friend's grasp; "but I fear you won't find many of our way of thinking
in this unhappy country. You are aware, no doubt, that it is
frequently--I might almost say every thr