Again the Governor drew up his slim soldierly
figure; deposited his cigarette on the malachite ash
tray. "You may be sure that we have given that
momentous question our deepest consideration.
Father Abella's suggestion that we buy your com-
modities for cash, and that with our Spanish dol-
lars you buy again of us, did not strike me favor-
ably at first, for it savored of sophistry. I may have
failed in every attempt to benefit and advance this
Godforsaken country, but at least I have been the
honest agent of my King. But the circumstances
are extraordinary. You are about to become one of
us, to do our unhappy colony the greatest service
that is in the power of any mortal, and personally
you have inspired us with affection and respect. I
have, therefore, decided that the exchange shall be
made on these terms, but that your cargo shall be
received by Don Jose Arguello, Commandante of
the San Francisco Company, and held in trust until
the formal consent of the King to the purchase shall
arrive."

Rezanov glowed to his finger tips. Not even the
assurance of his union with the woman of his heart,
which after all had met but the skeleton of his de-
sires, gave him the acute satisfaction of this sud-
den fulfilment of his self-imposed mission. He
dropped his own official demeanor and throwing
himself across the table gripped the Governor's