d Shaw stepped forward, and the
stranger approached, doffing his helmet courteously.

"You are the American and English party who landed here some weeks
ago from the _Rufus Smith_?"

His English was easy and correct, though spoken with a pronounced
Spanish accent. His dark high-featured face was the face of a
Spaniard. And his grace was the grace of a Spaniard, as he bowed
sweepingly and handed Mr. Shaw a card.

"Senor Don Enrique Gonzales," said Dugald, bowing in his
stiff-necked fashion, "I am very happy to meet you. But as you
represent His Excellency the President of the Republic of Santa
Marina I suppose you come on business, Senior Gonzales?"

"Precisely. I am enchanted that you apprehend the fact without the
tiresomeness of explanations. For business is a cold, usually a
disagreeable affair, is it not so? That being the case, let us get
it over."

"First do us the honor to be seated, Senor Gonzales."

Comfortably bestowed in a camp-chair in the shade, the Spaniard
resumed:

"My friend, this island belongs, as of course you are aware, to the
republic of which I have the honor to be a citizen. All rights and
privileges, such as harvesting the copra crop, are strictly
conserved by the republic. All persons desiring such are required
to negotiate with the Minister of State of the Republic. And how
much more, when it is a question of treasure--of a very large
treasure, Senor?"

The Scotchman's face was dark.

"I had understood," he replied, without looking in the direction of
Miss Higglesby-Browne, who seemed in the last few moments to have
undergone some mysterious shrinking process, "that negotiations in
the proper quarter had been undertaken and brought to a successful
conclusion--that in short we were here with the express permission
of the government of Santa Marina."

This was a challenge which Miss Browne could not but meet.

"I had," she said hoarsely, "I had the assurance of a--a person
high in the financial circles of the United States, that through
his--his influence with the government of Santa Marina it would not
be necessary--in short, that he could _fix_ the President--I employ
his own terms--for a considerable sum, which I--which my friend
Miss Harding gave him."

"And the name of this influential person?" inquired the Santa
Marinan, suavely.

"Hamilton H. Tubbs," croaked Miss Browne.

Senor Gonzales smiled.

"I remember the name well, madam. It is that of the pretended