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〃Who's he？〃 asked Brace。
〃He means Tom Paine！ 'The Age of Reason'you know；〃 said Winslow；
gazing with a mixture of delight and patronizing pride at the
Radicals of Todos Santos。 〃Oh！ he's no foolis Martinez； nor Ruiz
either！ And while you've been flirting with Dona Isabel； and Banks
has been trying to log…roll the Padre； and Crosby going in for
siestas； I'VE found them out。 And there are a few morearen't
there； Ruiz？〃
Ruiz darted a mysterious glance at Brace； and apparently not
trusting himself to speak； checked off his ten fingers dramatically
in the air thrice。
〃As many of a surety！ God and liberty！〃
〃But； if this is so； why haven't they DONE something？〃
Senor Martinez glanced at Senor Ruiz。
〃Hasta manana！〃 he said slowly。
〃Oh； this is a case of 'Hasta manana！'〃 said Brace； somewhat
relieved。
〃They can wait；〃 returned Winslow hurriedly。 〃It's too big a thing
to rush into without looking round。 You know what it means？
Either Todos Santos is in rebellion against the present Government
of Mexico； or she is independent of any。 Her present Government；
in any event； don't represent either the Republic of Mexico or the
people of Todos Santosdon't you see？ And in that case WE'VE got
as good a right here as any one。〃
〃He speaks the truth；〃 said Ruiz； grasping a hand of Brace and
Winslow each； 〃in this we areas brothers。〃
〃God and liberty！〃 ejaculated Martinez； in turn seizing the other
disengaged hands of the Americans； and completing the mystic
circle。
〃God and liberty！〃 echoed a thin chorus from their host and a few
loungers who had entered unperceived。
Brace felt uneasy。 He was not wanting in the courage or daring of
youth； but it struck him that his attitude was by no means
consistent with his attentions to Dona Isabel。 He managed to get
Winslow aside。
〃This is all very well as a 'free lunch' conspiracy； but you're
forgetting your parole；〃 he said； in a low voice。
〃We gave our parole to the present Government。 When it no longer
exists； there will be no paroledon't you see？〃
〃Then these fellows prefer waiting〃
〃Until we can get OUTSIDE help； you understand。 The first American
ship that comes in hereeh？〃
Brace felt relieved。 After all； his position in regard to the
Alcalde's sister would not be compromised； he might even be able to
extend some protection over her； and it would be a magnanimous
revenge if he could even offer it to Miss Keene。
〃I see you don't swear anybody to secrecy；〃 he said； with a laugh；
〃shall I speak to Crosby； or will you？〃
〃Not yet； he'll only see something to laugh at。 And Banks and
Martinez would quarrel at once； and go back on each other。 No； my
idea is to let some outsider do for Todos Santos what Perkins did
for Quinquinambo。 Do you take？〃
His long； thin； dyspeptic face lit up with a certain small
political cunning and shrewdness that struck Brace with a half…
respect。
〃I say； Winslow； you'd have made a first…class caucus leader in San
Francisco。〃
Winslow smiled complacently。 〃There's something better to play on
here than ward politics；〃 he replied。 〃There's a material here
thatlike the mine and the soilain't half developed。 I reckon I
can show Banks something that beats lobbying and log…rolling for
contracts。 I've let you into this thing to show you a sample of my
prospecting。 Keep it to yourself if you want it to pay。 Dat's me；
George！ Good…by！ I'll be out to the office to…morrow！〃
He turned back towards his brother politicians with an expression
of satisfied conceit that Brace for a moment envied。 The latter
even lingered on the veranda； as if he would have asked Winslow
another question； but； looking at his watch； he suddenly
recollected himself； and； mounting his horse； cantered down towards
the plaza。
The hour of siesta was not yet over； and the streets were still
desertedprobably the reason why the politicians of Todos Santos
had chosen that hour for their half secret meeting。 At the corner
of the plaza he dismounted and led his horse to the public
hitching…postgnawn and nibbled by the teeth of generations of
mustangsand turned into the narrow lane flanked by the walls of
the Alcalde's garden。 Halfway down he stopped before a slight
breach in the upper part of the adobe barrier； and looked
cautiously around。 The long； shadowed vista of the lane was
unobstructed by any moving figure as far as the yellow light of the
empty square beyond。 With a quick leap he gained the top of the
wall and disappeared on the other aide。
CHAPTER III。
INTERNATIONAL COURTESIES。
The garden over whose wall Brace had mysteriously vanished was
apparently as deserted as the lane and plaza without。 But its
solitude was one of graceful shadow and restful loveliness。 A
tropical luxuriance； that had perpetuated itself year after year；
until it was half suffocated in its own overgrowth and strangled
with its own beauty； spread over a variegated expanse of starry
flowers； shimmering leaves； and slender inextricable branches；
pierced here and there by towering rigid cactus spikes or the
curved plumes of palms。 The repose of ages lay in its hushed
groves； its drooping vines； its lifeless creepers； the dry dust of
its decaying leaves and branches mingled with the living perfumes
like the spiced embalmings of a forgotten past。
Nevertheless； this tranquillity； after a few moments； was
singularly disturbed。 There was no breeze stirring； and yet the
long fronds of a large fan palm； that stood near the breach in the
wall； began to move gently from right to left； like the arms of
some graceful semaphore； and then as suddenly stopped。 Almost at
the same moment a white curtain； listlessly hanging from a canopied
balcony of the Alcalde's house； began to exhibit a like rhythmical
and regular agitation。 Then everything was motionless again； an
interval of perfect peace settled upon the garden。 It was broken
by the apparition of Brace under the balcony； and the black…veiled
and flowered head of Dona Isabel from the curtain above。
〃Crazy boy！〃
〃Senorita！〃
〃Hush！ I am coming down！〃
〃You？ But Dona Ursula！〃
〃There is no more Dona Ursula！〃
〃Wellyour duenna； whoever she is！〃
〃There is no duenna！〃
〃What？〃
〃Hush up your tongue； idiot boy！〃 （this in English。）
The little black head and the rose on top of it disappeared。 Brace
drew himself up against the wall and waited。 The time seemed
interminable。 Impatiently looking up and down； he at last saw Dona
Isabel at a distance； quietly and unconcernedly moving among the
roses； and occasionally stooping as if to pick them。 In an instant
he was at her side。
〃Let me help you；〃 he said。
She opened her little brownish palm；
〃Look！〃 In her hand were a few leaves of some herb。 〃It is for
you。〃
Brace seized and kissed the hand。