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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 must concede and capitulate。 He felt that the sister
of an acknowledged crook； no matter how innocent she might be；
were she a sensitive woman； would wish to efface herself。 And
he had found that； as a rule； women who worked in hospitals and
organized societies bored him。 He did not admire the militant；
executive sister。 He pictured Miss Ward as probably pretty； but
with the coquettish effrontery of the village belle and with the
pushing； 〃good…fellow〃 manners of the new school。 He was prepared
either to have her slap him on the back or； from behind tilted
eye…glasses； make eyes at him。 He was sure she wore eye…glasses；
and was large； plump； and Junoesque。 With reluctance he entered
the outer office。 He saw； all in white； a girl so young that she
was hardly more than a child； but with the tall； slim figure of a
boy。 Her face was lovely as the face of a violet； and her eyes
were as shy。 But shy not through lack of confidence in Everett；
nor in any human being； but in herself。 They seemed to say； 〃I am
a very unworthy； somewhat frightened young person； but you； who
are so big and generous； will overlook that； and you are going to
be my friend。 Indeed； I see you are my friend。〃
Everett stood quite still。 He nodded gloomily。
〃Garland was right；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I do！〃
The young lady was plainly distressed。
〃Do what？〃 she stammered。
〃Some day I will tell you；〃 said the young man。 〃Yes；〃 he added；
without shame； 〃I am afraid I will。〃 He bowed her into the inner
office。
〃I am sorry；〃 apologized Monica； 〃but I am come to ask a favor
two favors； one of you and one of the American minister。〃
Everett drew his armchair from his desk and waved Monica into it。
〃I was sent here；〃 he said； 〃to do exactly what you want。 The
last words the President addressed to me were； 'On arriving at
your post report to Miss Monica Ward。〃'
Fearfully； Monica perched herself on the edge of the armchair； as
though for protection she clasped the broad table before her。
〃The favor I want；〃 she hastily assured him； 〃is not for myself。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 said Everett； 〃for it is already granted。〃
〃You are very good；〃 protested Monica。
〃No；〃 replied Everett； 〃I am only powerful。 I represent ninety…five
million Americans； and they are all entirely at your service。 So is
the army and navy。〃
Monica smiled and shook her head。 The awe she felt was due an
American minister was rapidly disappearing； and in Mr。 Everett
himself her confidence was increasing。 The other ministers
plenipotentiary she had seen at Camaguay had been old； with
beards like mountain…goats； and had worn linen dusters。 They
always were very red in the face and very damp。 Monica decided
Mr。 Everett also was old； she was sure he must be at least
thirty…five； but in his silk pongee and pipe…clayed tennis…shoes
he was a refreshing spectacle。 Just to look at him turned one
quite cool。
〃We have a very fine line of battle…ships this morning at
Guantanamo；〃 urged Everett； 〃if you want one I'll cable for it。〃
Monica laughed softly。 It was good to hear nonsense spoken。 The
Amapalans had never learned it； and her brother said just what he
meant and no more。
〃Our sailors were here once；〃 Monica volunteered。 She wanted
Mr。 Everett to know he was not entirely cut off from the world。
〃During the revolution；〃 she explained。 〃We were so glad to see
them； they made us all feel nearer home。 They set up our flag in
the plaza； and the color…guard let me photograph it； with them
guarding it。 And when they marched away the archbishop stood
on the cathedral steps and blessed them； and we rode out along the
trail to where it comes to the jungle。 And then we waved good…by；
and they cheered us。 We all cried。〃
For a moment； quite unconsciously； Monica gave an imitation of
how they all cried。 It made the appeal of the violet eyes even more
disturbing。
〃Don't you lo