"What did he say to that?" gasped the new consul.

"Said it wasn't a life job, because he was going to have me shot at
sunset."

"Then you said?"

"I said if he did that there wouldn't be any electric lights, and
you would bring a warship and shoot Hayti off the map."

The new consul was most indignant.

"You had no right to say that!" he protested. "You did very ill. My
instructions are to avoid all serious complications."

"That was what I was trying to avoid," said Billy. "Don't you call
being shot at sunset a serious complication? Or would that be just
a coincidence, too? You're a hell of a consul!"

Since his talk with the representative of his country four months
had passed and Billy still held his job. But each month the number
of francs he was able to wrest from President Hamilcar dwindled,
and were won only after verbal conflicts that each month increased
in violence.

To the foreign colony it became evident that, in the side of
President Ham, Billy was a thorn, sharp, irritating, virulent, and
that at any moment Ham might pluck that thorn and Billy would leave
Hayti in haste, and probably in hand- cuffs. This was evident to
Billy, also, and the prospect was most disquieting. Not because he