were a grown-up person,'' said her sister. ``But I agree with
you about Captain Stuart; only, why is he down here? If he is a
gentleman, why is he not in his own army? Was he forced to leave
it?''

``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.