"Perhaps I can explain," interrupted the Spaniard. "If you will
kindly allow me. I came to New York with an express purpose in
view. That purpose has now suffered--but no matter. I must not
speak of that!" and there seemed to be a return of his queer,
tragic manner.

"I am connected with the Equatorial Railroad Company," he resumed,
after a momentary pause, during which he seemed to regain control
of himself. "Our company has recently decided to have a series of
moving pictures made, showing life in our section of the South
American jungle, and also what we have done in the matter of
railroad transportation, to redeem the jungle, and make it more
fit for habitation.

"As one of the means of interesting the public, and, I may say,
in interesting capitalists, moving pictures were suggested. The
idea was my own, and was adopted, and I was appointed to arrange
the matter. But in order that the right kind of moving pictures
might be obtained, so that they would help the work of our
railroad, I decided I must know something of the details--how the
pictures are made, how the cameras are constructed, how the
pictures are projected--in short all I could learn about the
business I desired to learn.

"My company sent me to New York, and there, on inquiry, I learned
of the Film Theatrical Company. I had letters of introduction, and
I soon met Mr. Hadley. He seems to be in charge of this branch of
the work--I mean outdoor pictures."