sions of ceremony--being a gentleman who loved
good company and cheer--and his sharp gray eyes
were almost shut in the effort to penetrate the de-
signs of this deputy, this symbol, this index in cipher,
of a dreaded race. Rezanov smoked calmly, made
himself comfortable on the slippery horse-hair chair,
though with no loss of dignity, and beat about the
bush with the others until the Governor betrayed
himself at last by a chance remark:

"What you say of the neighborly instincts of the
Russian colonists for the Spanish on this coast in-
terests me deeply, Excellency, but if Russia is at
war with Spain--"

"Russia is not at war with Spain," said Rezanov,
with a flash of amusement in his half-closed eyes.
"Napoleon Bonaparte is encamped about half way
between the two countries. They could not get at
each other if they wished. While that man is at
large, Europe will be at war with him, no two na-
tions with each other."

"Ah!" exclaimed Arrillaga. "That is a manner
of reasoning that had not occurred to me."

The Commandante had spat at the mention of the
usurper's name and muttered "Chinchosa!" and
Rezanov, recalling his first conversation with Con-
cha, looked into the honest eyes of the monarchist