第28章

``Oh, he seems to have a very good position here,'' said Mr.

Langham.``In England, at his age, he would be only a second-lieutenant.Don't you remember what the President said, that he would trust him with the command of his army? That's certainly a responsible position, and it shows great confidence in him.''

``Not so great, it seems to me,'' said King, carelessly, ``as he is showing him in making him the guardian of his hearth and home.

Did you hear what he said to-day? `He guards my home and my family.' I don't think a man's home and family are among the things he can afford to leave to the protection of stray English subalterns.From all I hear, it would be better if President Alvarez did less plotting and protected his own house himself.''

``The young man did not strike me as the sort of person,'' said Mr.Langham, warmly, ``who would be likely to break his word to the man who is feeding him and sheltering him, and whose uniform he wears.I don't think the President's home is in any danger from within.Madame Alvarez--''

Clay turned suddenly in his place on the box-seat of the carriage, where he had been sitting, a silent, misty statue in the moonlight, and peered down on those in the carriage below him.

``Madame Alvarez needs no protection, as you were about to say, Mr.Langham,'' he interrupted, quickly.``Those who know her could say nothing against her, and those who do not know her would not so far forget themselves as to dare to do it.Have you noticed the effect of the moonlight on the walls of the convent?'' he continued, gently.``It makes them quite white.''

``No,'' exclaimed Mr.Langham and King, hurriedly, as they both turned and gazed with absorbing interest at the convent on the hills above them.

Before the sisters went to sleep that night Hope came to the door of her sister's room and watched Alice admiringly as she sat before the mirror brushing out her hair.

``I think it's going to be fine down here; don't you, Alice?''

she asked.``Everything is so different from what it is at home, and so beautiful, and I like the men we've met.Isn't that Mr.

MacWilliams funny--and he is so tough.And Captain Stuart--it is a pity he's shy.The only thing he seems to be able to talk about is Mr.Clay.He worships Mr.Clay!''

``Yes,'' assented her sister, ``I noticed on the balcony that you seemed to have found some way to make him speak.''

``Well, that was it.He likes to talk about Mr.Clay, and Iwanted to listen.Oh! he is a fine man.He has done more exciting things--''

``Who? Captain Stuart?''

``No--Mr.Clay.He's been in three real wars and about a dozen little ones, and he's built thousands of miles of railroads, Idon't know how many thousands, but Captain Stuart knows; and he built the highest bridge in Peru.It swings in the air across a chasm, and it rocks when the wind blows.And the German Emperor made him a Baron.''

``Why?''

``I don't know.I couldn't understand.It was something about plans for fortifications.He, Mr.Clay, put up a fort in the harbor of Rio Janeiro during a revolution, and the officers on a German man-of-war saw it and copied the plans, and the Germans built one just like it, only larger, on the Baltic, and when the Emperor found out whose design it was, he sent Mr.Clay the order of something-or-other, and made him a Baron.''

``Really,'' exclaimed the elder sister, ``isn't he afraid that some one will marry him for his title?''

``Oh, well, you can laugh, but I think it's pretty fine, and so does Ted,'' added Hope, with the air of one who propounds a final argument.

``Oh, I beg your pardon,'' laughed Alice.``If Ted approves we must all go down and worship.''

``And father, too,'' continued Hope.``He said he thought Mr.

Clay was one of the most remarkable men for his years that he had ever met.''

Miss Langham's eyes were hidden by the masses of her black hair that she had shaken over her face, and she said nothing.

``And I liked the way he shut Reggie King up too,'' continued Hope, stoutly, ``when he and father were talking that way about Madame Alvarez.''

``Yes, upon my word,'' exclaimed her sister, impatiently tossing her hair back over her shoulders.``I really cannot see that Madame Alvarez is in need of any champion.I thought Mr.Clay made it very much worse by rushing in the way he did.Why should he take it upon himself to correct a man as old as my father?''

``I suppose because Madame Alvarez is a friend of his,'' Hope answered.

``My dear child, a beautiful woman can always find some man to take her part,'' said Miss Langham.``But I've no doubt,'' she added, rising and kissing her sister good-night, ``that he is all that your Captain Stuart thinks him; but he is not going to keep us awake any longer, is he, even if he does show such gallant interest in old ladies?''

``Old ladies!'' exclaimed Hope in amazement.

``Why, Alice!''

But her sister only laughed and waved her out of the room, and Hope walked away frowning in much perplexity.