"The devil! You said he'd gone back to New York. What is it
about?"

"I thought he had. They arrested him for some silly thing, and
he's hurt." She hurriedly recounted Allan's story, adding, in
conclusion, "That black boy came all the way across the Isthmus to
tell us!"

"I'll get the American consul by 'phone--"

But Mrs. Cortlandt interrupted. "Weeks is a fool! He wouldn't do
anything. Wait!" She stepped to the instrument and rang violently.
"Give me Colonel Jolson's office, quickly. If he is not there,
find him. I don't care where he is, find him; it is important.
This is Mrs. Cortlandt speaking.'

"What do you mean to do?" said Cortlandt.

"Go to Colon at once. This is young Alfarez's doing--the whipper-
snapper--you must lay him out for this. How dare he!"

"Better go carefully. Remember, General Alfarez is his father."

"I understand. But we are bound to come to a breach sooner or
later."

"I hardly think so. I believe we can bring him around all right--
anyhow, I haven't lost hope." Then, as his wife made an impatient
gesture: "Well, if we precipitate a quarrel now, that will end
it." He paced the room feverishly. "Good heavens, Edith! Anthony