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interrupt。
〃Then； let us pray；〃 he exclaimed； with fervor； 〃that the hurricane
has sunk the SERAPIS； and all on board。〃
Two hours later； the SERAPIS； showing she had met the hurricane and
had come out second best； steamed into the harbor。
Her owner was young Herbert Livingstone； of Washington。 He once had
been in the diplomatic service； and； as minister to The Hague；
wished to return to it。 In order to bring this about he had
subscribed liberally to the party campaign fund。
With him； among other distinguished persons； was the all… powerful
Hanley。 The kidnapping of Hanley for the cruise； in itself；
demonstrated the ability of Livingstone as a diplomat。 It was the
opinion of many that it would surely lead to his appointment as a
minister plenipotentiary。 Livingstone was of the same opinion。 He
had not lived long in the nation's capital without observing the
value of propinquity。 How many men he knew were now paymasters； and
secretaries of legation； solely because those high in the
government met them daily at the Metropolitan Club； and preferred
them in almost any other place。 And if； after three weeks as his
guest on board what the newspapers called his floating palace； the
senator could refuse him even the prize； legation of Europe； there
was no value in modest merit。 As yet； Livingstone had not hinted at
his ambition。 There was no need。 To a statesman of Hanley's
astuteness； the largeness of Livingstone's contribution to the
campaign fund was self… explanatory。
After her wrestling…match with the hurricane； all those on board
the SERAPIS seemed to find in land； even in the swamp land of Porto
Banos； a compelling attraction。 Before the anchors hit the water；
they were in the launch。 On reaching shore； they made at once for
the consulate。 There were many cables they wished to start on their
way by wireless； cables to friends； to newspapers； to the
government。
Jose； the Colombian clerk； appalled by the unprecedented invasion
of visitors； of visitors so distinguished； and Marshall； grateful
for a chance to serve his fellow… countrymen； and especially his
countrywomen； were ubiquitous； eager； indispensable。 At Jose's desk
the great senator； rolling his cigar between his teeth； was using；
to Jose's ecstasy； Jose's own pen to write a reassuring message to
the White House。 At the consul's desk a beautiful creature； all in
lace and pearls； was struggling to compress the very low opinion
she held of a hurricane into ten words。 On his knee； Henry Cairns；
the banker； was inditing instructions to his Wall Street office；
and upon himself Livingstone had taken the responsibility of
replying to the inquiries heaped upon Marshall's desk； from many
newspapers。
It was just before sunset； and Marshall produced his tea things；
and the young person in pearls and lace； who was Miss Cairns； made
tea for the women； and the men mixed gin and limes with tepid
water。 The consul apologized for proposing a toast in which they
could not join。 He begged to drink to those who had escaped the
perils of the sea。 Had they been his oldest and nearest friends；
his little speech could not have been more heart…felt and sincere。
To his distress； it moved one of the ladies to tears； and in
embarrassment he turned to the men。
〃I regret there is no ice；〃 he said； 〃but you know the rule of the
tropics； as soon as a ship enters port； the ice… machine bursts。〃
〃I'll tell the steward to send you some； sir；〃 said Livingstone；
〃and as long as we're here。〃
The senator showed his concern。
〃As long as we're here？〃 he gasped。
〃Not over two days；〃 answered the owner nervously。 〃The chief says
it will take all of that to get her in shape。 As you ought to know；
Senator； she was pretty badly mauled。〃
The senator gazed blankly out of the window。 Beyond it lay the
naked coral reefs； the empty sky； and the ragged palms of Porto
Banos。
Livingstone felt that his legation was slipping from him。
〃That wireless operator；〃 he continued hastily； 〃tells me there is
a most amusing place a few miles down the coast； Las Bocas； a sort
of Coney Island； where the government people go for the summer。
There's surf bathing and roulette and cafes chantants。 He says
there's some Spanish dancers〃
The guests of the SERAPIS exclaimed with interest； the senator
smiled。 To Marshall the general enthusiasm over the thought of a
ride on a merry…go…round suggested that the friends of Mr。
Livingstone had found their own society far from satisfying。
Greatly encouraged； Livingstone continued； with enthusiasm：
〃And that wireless man said；〃 he added； 〃that with the launch we
can get there in half an hour。 We might run down after dinner。〃 He
turned to Marshall。
〃Will you join us； Mr。 Consul？〃 he asked； 〃and dine with us；
first？〃
Marshall accepted with genuine pleasure。 It had been many months
since he had sat at table with his own people。 But he shook his
head doubtfully。
〃I was wondering about Las Bocas；〃 he explained； 〃if your going
there might not get you in trouble at the next port。 With a yacht；
I think it is different； but Las Bocas is under quarantine〃
There was a chorus of exclamations。
〃It's not serious；〃 Marshall explained。 〃There was bubonic plague
there； or something like it。 You would be in no danger from that。
It is only that you might be held up by the regulations。 Passenger
steamers can't land any one who has been there at any other port of
the
West Indies。 The English are especially strict。 The Royal Mail
won't even receive any one on board here without a certificate from
the English consul saying he has not visited Las Bocas。 For an
American they would require the same guarantee from me。 But I don't
think the regulations extend to yachts。 I will inquire。 I don't
wish to deprive you of any of the many pleasures of Porto Banos；〃
he added； smiling； 〃but if you were refused a landing at your next
port I would blame myself。〃
〃It's all right；〃 declared Livingstone decidedly。 〃It's just as you
say； yachts and warships are exempt。 Besides； I carry my own
doctor； and if he won't give us a clean bill of health； I'll make
him walk the plank。 At eight； then； at dinner。 I'll send the cutter
for you。 I can't give you a salute； Mr。 Consul； but you shall have
all the side boys I can muster。〃
Those from the yacht parted from their consul in the most friendly
spirit。
〃I think he's charming！〃 exclaimed Miss Cairns。 〃And did you notice
his novels？ They were in every language。 It must be terribly lonely
down here； for a man like that。〃
〃He's the first of our consuls we've met on this trip；〃 growled her
father； 〃that we've caught sober。〃
〃Sober！〃 exclaimed his wife indignantly。
〃He's one of the Marshalls of Vermont。 I asked him。〃
〃I wonder；〃 mused Hanley； 〃how much the place is worth？ Hamilton；
one of the new senators； has been deviling the life out of me to
send his son somewhere。 Says if he stays in Washington he'll
disgrace the family。 I should think this place would drive any man
to drink himself to death in three months； and young Hamilton； from
what I've seen of him； ought to be able to do it in a week。 That
would leave the place open for the next man。〃
〃There's a postmaster in my State thinks he carried it。〃 The
senator smiled grimly。 〃He has consumption； and wants us to give
him a consulship in the tropics。 I'll tell him I've seen Porto
Banos； and that it's just the place for him。〃
The senator's pleasantry was not well received。 But Miss Cairns
alone had the temerity to speak of what the others were thinking。
〃What would become of Mr。 Marshall？〃 she asked。 The senator smiled
tolerantly。
〃I don't know that I was thinking of Mr。 Marshall；〃 he said。 〃I
can't recall anything he has done for this administration。 You see；
Miss Cairns；〃 he explained； in the tone of one addressing a small
child； 〃Marshall has been abroad now for forty years； at the
expense of the taxpayers。 Some of us think men who have lived that
long on their fellow…countrymen had better come home and get to
work。〃
Livingstone nodded solemnly in assent。 He did not wish a post
abroad at the expense of the taxpayers。 He was willing to pay for
it。 And then； with 〃ex…Minister〃 on his visiting cards； and a sense
of duty well performed； for the rest of his life he could join the
other expatriates in Paris。
Just before dinner； the cruiser RALEIGH having discovered the
whereabouts of the SERAPIS by wireless； entered the harbor； and
Admiral Hardy came to the yacht to call upon the senator； in whose
behalf he had been scouring the Caribbean Seas。 Having paid his
respects to that personage； the admiral fell boisterously upon
Marshall。
The two old gentlemen were friends of many years。 They had met；
officially and unofficially； in many strange parts of the world。 To
each the chance reunion was a piece of tremendous good fortune。 And
throughout dinner the guests of Livingstone； already bored with
each other； found in them and their talk of former days new and
delightful entertainment。 So much so that when； Marshall having
assured them that the local quarantine regulations did not extend
to a yacht； the men departed for Las Bocas； the women insisted th