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with that junk。 He's found something else at Cobre and he shares
it with Mendoza； and I believe it's gold。〃
The minister smiled delightedly。
〃What kind of gold？
〃Maybe in the rough；〃 said the consul。 〃But I prefer to think
it's treasure。 The place is full of secret chambers； tombs； and
passage…ways cut through the rock； deep under the surface。 I
believe Ward has stumbled on some vault where the priests used
to hide their loot。 I believe he's getting it out bit by bit and
going shares with Mendoza。〃
〃If that were so；〃 ventured Everett； 〃why wouldn't Mendoza take
it all？〃
〃Because Ward；〃 explained the consul； 〃is the only one who knows
where it is。 The ruins cover two square miles。 You might search
for years。 They tried to follow and spy on him； but Ward was too
clever for them。 He turned back at once。 If they don't take what
he gives； they get nothing。 So they protect him from real explorers
and from extradition。 The whole thing is unfair。 A real archaeologist
turned up here a month ago。 He had letters from the Smithsonian
Institute and several big officials at Washington； but do you suppose
they would let him so much as smell of Cobre？ Not they！ Not even
when I spoke for him as consul。 Then he appealed to Ward； and Ward
turned him down hard。 You were arriving； so he's hung on here hoping
you may have more influence。 His name is Peabody； he's a professor；
but he's young and full of 'get there；' and he knows more about the ruins
of Cobre now than Ward does after having them all to himself for two
years。 He's good people and I hope you'll help him。〃
Everett shook his head doubtfully。
〃If the government has given the concession to him；〃 he pointed
out； 〃no matter who Ward may be； or what its motives were for
giving it to him； I can't ask it to break its promise。 As an
American citizen Ward is as much entitled to my help
officiallyas Professor Peabody； whatever his standing。〃
〃Ward's a forger；〃 protested Garland； 〃a fugitive from justice； and
Peabody is a scholar and a gentleman。 I'm not keen about dead
cities myselfthis one we're in now is dead enough for mebut if
civilization is demanding to know what Cobre was like eight
hundred years ago； civilization is entitled to find out； and
Peabody seems the man for the job。 It's a shame to turn him
down for a gang of grafters。〃
〃Tell him to come and talk to me；〃 said the minister。
〃He rode over to the ruins of Copan last week；〃 explained Garland；
〃where the Harvard expedition is。 But he's coming back to…morrow
on purpose to see you。〃
The consul had started toward the door when he suddenly returned。
〃And there's some one else coming to see you；〃 he said。 〃Some
one；〃 he added anxiously； 〃you want to treat right。 That's Monica
Ward。 She's Chester Ward's sister； and you mustn't get her mixed
up with anything I told you about her brother。 She's coming to
ask you to help start a Red Cross Society。 She was a volunteer
nurse in the hospital in the last two revolutions； and what she
saw makes her want to be sure she won't see it again。 She's
taught the native ladies the 'first aid' drill； and they expect
you to be honorary president of the society。 You'd better
accept。〃
Shaking his head； Garland smiled pityingly upon the new minister。
〃You've got a swell chance to get your treaty；〃 he declared。
〃Monica is another one who will prevent it。〃
Everett sighed patiently。
〃What；〃 he demanded； 〃might her particular crime be； murder；
shoplifting； treason〃
〃If her brother had to leave this country；〃 interrupted Garland；
〃she'd leave with him。 And the people don't want that。 Her pull
is the same as old man Goddard's。 Everybody loves him and
everybody loves her。 I love her；〃 exclaimed the consul
cheerfully； 〃the President loves her； the sisters in the hospital；
the chain…gang in the street； the washerwomen in the river；
the palace guard； everybody in this flea…bitten； God…forsaken
country loves Monica Wardand when you meet her you
will； too。〃
Garland had again reached the door to the outer hall before
Everett called him back。
〃If it is not a leading question；〃 asked the minister； 〃what
little indiscretion in your life brought you to Amapala？〃
Garland grinned appreciatively。
〃I know they sound a queer lot；〃 he assented； 〃but when you get
to know 'em； you like 'em。 My own trouble；〃 he added； 〃was a
horse。 I never could see why they made such a fuss about him。 He
was lame when I took him。〃
Disregarding Garland's pleasantry； for some time His Excellency
sat with his hands clasped behind his head； frowning up from the
open patio into the hot； cloudless sky。 On the ridge of his tiled
roof a foul buzzard blinked at him from red…rimmed eyes； across
the yellow wall a lizard ran for shelter； at his elbow a macaw
compassing the circle of its tin prison muttered dreadful oaths。
Outside； as the washerwomen beat their linen clubs upon the flat
rocks of the river； the hot； stale air was spanked with sharp reports。
In Camaguay theirs was the only industry； the only sign of
cleanliness； and recognizing that another shirt had been thrashed
into subjection and rags； Everett winced。 No less visibly did his
own thoughts cause him to wince。 Garland he had forgotten；
and he was sunk deep in self…pity。 His thoughts were of London；
with its world politics； its splendid traditions； its great and gracious
ladies； of Paris in the spring sunshine； when he cantered through the
Bois； of Madrid； with its pomp and royalty； and the gray walls of its
galleries proclaiming Murillo and Velasquez。 These things he had
forsaken because he believed he was ambitious； and behold into
what a cul…de…sac his ambition had led him！ A comic…opera country
that was not comic； but dead and buried from the world； a savage
people； unread； unenlightened； unclean； and for society of his
countrymen； pitiful derelicts in hiding from the law。 In his soul
he rebelled。 In words he exploded bitterly。
〃This is one hell of a hole； Garland；〃 cried the diplomat。 His
jaws and his eyes hardened。 〃I'm going back to Europe。 And
the only way I can go is to get that treaty。 I was sent here to get
it。 Those were my orders。 And I'll get it if I have to bribe them
out of my own pocket； if I have to outbid Mr。 Ward； and send
him and your good Colonel Goddard and all the rest of the crew
to the jails where they belong！〃
Garland heard him without emotion。 From long residence near the
equator he diagnosed the outbreak as a case of tropic choler；
aggravated by nostalgia and fleas。
〃I'll bet you don't；〃 he said。
〃I'll bet you your passage…money home；〃 shouted Everett； 〃against
my passage…money to Europe。〃
〃Done！〃 said Garland。 〃How much time do you wanttwo years？〃
The diplomat exclaimed mockingly：
〃Two months！〃
〃I win now； 〃said the consul。 〃I'll go home and pack。〃
The next morning his clerk told Everett that in the outer office
Monica Ward awaited him。
Overnight Everett had developed a prejudice against Miss Ward。
What Garland had said in her favor had only driven him the wrong
way。 Her universal popularity he disliked。 He argued that to gain
popularity one