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Chapel。 Of course you don't know HIM； but you couldn't have helped
liking him； he's so gentle； so tactful； so refined！ But do tell me
the fullest particulars of this terrible calamity that has happened
so awkwardly。 Tell me all！ I fear that Don Ramon； out of
kindness； has not told me everything。 I have been perfectly frank；
I told him everythingwho I am； who Mr。 Brimmer is； and given him
even the connections of my friend Miss Chubb。 I can do no more；
but you will surely have no difficulty in finding some one in Todos
Santos who has heard of the Quincys and Brimmers。 I've no doubt
that there are books in your library that mention them。 Of course
I can say nothing of the other passengers； except that Mr。 Brimmer
would not have probably permitted me to associate with any
notorious persons。 I confess nowI think I told you once before；
Clarissathat I greatly doubted Captain Bunker's ability〃
〃Ah；〃 murmured Don Ramon。
〃To make a social selection；〃 continued Mrs。 Brimmer。 〃He may
have been a good sailor； and boxed his compass； but he lacked a
knowledge of the world。 Of the other passengers I can truly say I
know nothing； I cannot think that Mr。 Crosby's sense of humor led
him into bad associations； or that he ever went beyond verbal
impropriety。 Certainly nothing in Miss Keene's character has led
me to believe she could so far forget what was due to herself and
to us as to address a lawless mob in the streets as she did just
now； although her friend Mrs。 Markham； as I just told Don Ramon； is
an advocate of Women's Rights and Female Suffrage； and I believe
she contemplates addressing the public from the lecturer's
platform。〃
〃It isn't possible！〃 interrupted Don Ramon excitedly； in mingled
horror of the masculinely rampant Mrs。 Markham and admiration of
the fascinatingly feminine Mrs。 Brimmer； 〃a lady cannot be an
oratora haranguer of men！〃
〃Not in society；〃 responded Mrs。 Brimmer； with a sigh； 〃and I do
not remember to have met the lady before。 The fact is； she does
not move in our circlein the upper classes。〃
The Alcalde exchanged a glance with the Padre。
〃Ah！ you have classes？ and she is of a distinct class； perhaps？〃
〃Decidedly；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer promptly。
〃Pardon me；〃 said Padre Esteban； with gentle persuasiveness； 〃but
you are speaking of your fellow…passengers。 Know you not； then； of
one Hurlstone； who is believed to be still in the ship Excelsior；
and perhaps of the party who seized it？〃
〃Mr。 Hurlstone？it is possible； but I know really nothing of him；〃
said Mrs。 Brimmer carelessly。 〃I don't think Clarissa did； either
did you； dear？ Even in our enforced companionship we had to use
some reserve； and we may have drawn the line at him！ He was a
friend of Miss Keene's； indeed； she was the only one who seemed to
know him。〃
〃And she is now here？〃 asked the Padre eagerly。
〃No。 She is with her friend the Senora Markham； at the Presidio。
The Comandante has given her the disposition of his house；〃 said
Don Ramon； with a glance of grave archness at Mrs。 Brimmer； 〃it is
not known which is the most favored； the eloquent orator or the
beautiful and daring leader！〃
〃Mrs。 Markham is a married woman；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer severely；
〃and； of course； she can do as she pleases； but it is far different
with Miss Keene。 I should scarcely consider it proper to expose
Miss Chubb to the hospitality of a single man； without other women；
and I cannot understand how she could leave the companionship and
protection of your lovely sisters。〃
The priest here rose； and； with formal politeness； excused himself；
urging the peremptory summons of the Council。
〃I scarcely expected； indeed； to have had the pleasure of seeing my
colleague here；〃 he added with quiet suavity； turning to the
Alcalde。
〃I have already expressed my views to the Comandante；〃 said the
official； with some embarrassment； 〃and my attendance will hardly
be required。〃
The occasional misleading phosphorescence of Mrs。 Brimmer's quiet
eyes； early alluded to in these pages； did not escape Father
Esteban's quick perception at that moment； however； he preferred to
leave his companion to follow its aberrations rather than to permit
that fair ignis fatuus to light him on his way by it。
〃But my visit to you； Father Esteban；〃 she began sweetly； 〃is only
postponed。〃
〃Until I have the pleasure of anticipating it here；〃 said the
priest； with paternal politeness bending before the two ladies；
〃but for the present； au revoir！〃
〃It would be an easy victory to win this discreetly emotional
Americana to the Church；〃 said Father Esteban to himself； as he
crossed the plaza； 〃but； if I mistake not； she would not cease to
be a disturbing element even there。 However； she is not such as
would give this Hurlstone any trouble。 It seems I must look
elsewhere for the brains of this party； and to find a solution of
this young man's mystery； and； if I judge correctly； it is with
this beautiful young agitator of revolutions and her oratorical
duenna I must deal。〃
He entered the low gateway of the Presidio unchallenged； and even
traversed the courtyard without meeting a soul。 The guard and
sentries had evidently withdrawn to their habitual peaceful
vocations； and the former mediaeval repose of the venerable
building had returned。 There was no one in the guard…room； but as
the priest turned back to the corridor； his quick ear was suddenly
startled by the unhallowed and inconsistent sounds of a guitar。 A
monotonous voice alsothe Comandante's evidentlywas raised in a
thin； high recitative。
The Padre passed hastily through the guard…room； and opened the
door of the passage leading to the garden slope。 Here an
extraordinary group presented itself to his astonished eyes。 In
the shadow of a palm…tree； Mrs。 Markham； seated on her Saratoga
trunk as on a throne； was gazing blandly down upon the earnest
features of the Commander； who； at her feet； guitar in hand； was
evidently repeating some musical composition。 His subaltern sat
near him； divided in admiration of his chief and the guest。 Miss
Keene； at a little distance； aided by the secretary； was holding an
animated conversation with a short； stout； Sancho Panza…looking
man； whom the Padre recognized as the doctor of Todos Santos。
At the apparition of the reverend Father； the Commander started；
the subaltern stared； and even the secretary and the doctor looked
discomposed。
〃I am decidedly de trop this morning；〃 soliloquized the
ecclesiastic； but Miss Keene cut short his reflection by running to
him frankly； with outstretched hand。
〃I am so glad that you have come；〃 she said； with a youthful；
unrestrained earnestness that was as convincing as it was
fascinating； 〃for you will help me to persuade this gentleman that
poor Captain Bunker is suffering more from excitement of mind than
body； and that bleeding him is more than folly。