Paranoya had, it appeared, existed fairly peacefully for centuries
under the rule of the Alejandro dynasty. Then, in the reign of
Alejandro the Thirteenth, disaffection had begun to spread, culminating
in the Infamy of 1905, which, Roland had at last discovered, was
nothing less than the abolition of the monarchy and the installation of
a republic.

Since 1905 the one thing for which they had lived, besides the
caoutchouc, was to see the monarchy restored and their beloved
Alejandro the Thirteenth back on his throne. Their efforts toward this
end had been untiring, and were at last showing signs of bearing fruit.
Paranoya, Maraquita assured Roland, was honeycombed with intrigue. The
army was disaffected, the people anxious for a return to the old order
of things.

A more propitious moment for striking the decisive blow was never
likely to arrive. The question was purely one of funds.

At the mention of the word "funds," Roland, who had become thoroughly
bored with the lecture on Paranoyan history, sat up and took notice. He
had an instinctive feeling that he was about to be called upon for a
subscription to the cause of the distressful country's freedom.
Especially by Bombito.

He was right. A moment later Maraquita began to make a speech.

She spoke in Paranoyan, and Roland could not follow her, but he
gathered that it somehow had reference to himself.

As, at the end of it, the entire company rose to their feet and