one of tender friendship, wholly
unobtrusive, almost wholly impersonal--a tender sympathy with the
suffering, perhaps, rather than with the sufferer, but bringing much
sweetness of voice to the sufferer's ear.

The two became quite confidential about the Dictator and the danger that
was supposed to be threatening him. They had long talks over it--and
there was an element of secrecy and mystery about the talks which gave
them a certain piquancy and almost a certain sweetness. Of course these
talks had to be all confidential. It was not to be supposed that the
Dictator would allow, if he knew, that any work should be made about any
personal danger to him. Therefore Hamilton and Dolores had to talk in an
underhand kind of way, and to turn on to quite indifferent subjects when
anyone not in the mystery happened to come in. The talks took place
sometimes in the public corridor--often in Dolores' own little room.
Sometimes the Dictator himself looked in by chance and exchanged a few
words with Miss Dolores, and then, of course, the confidential talk
collapsed. The Dictator liked Dolores very much. He thought her a
remarkably clever and true-hearted girl, and quite a princess and a
beauty in her way, and he had more than once said so to Hamilton.

One day Dolores ventured to ask Hamilton, 'Is it true what they say
about his Excellency?' and she blushed a little at her own boldness in
asking the question.

'Is what true?' Hamilton asked in return, and all unconscious of her
meaning.

'Well, is it true that he is going to marry--Sir Rupert Langley's
daughter?'

Then Hamilton's face, usually so pale, flushed a sudden red, and for a
moment he could hardly speak. He opened his mouth once or twice, but the
words did not come.

'Who said that?' he asked at last.

'I don't know,' Dolores answered, much alarmed and distressed, with a
light breaking on her that made her flush too. 'I heard it said
somewhere--I dare say it's not true. Oh, I am quite sure it is _not_
true--but people always _are_ saying such things.'

'It can't be true,' Hamilton said. 'If he had any thought of it he would
have told me. He knows that there is nothing I could desire more than
that he should be made happy.'

Again he almost broke down.

'Yes, if it would make him happy,' Dolores intervened once again,
plucking up her courage.

'She is a very noble girl,' Hamilton said, 'but I don't believe there is
anything in it. She admires him as we all do