under his wise and
beneficent influence, the Lighthouse being one of the first
improvements; of its being given to him to erect because of his loyalty
to the cause, and to the part he had taken in overturning that despot,
the Tyrant Paramba, who had ruled the republic with a rod of iron. Now
it was all over--Paramba was living in the swamps, hunted like a dog.
When he was caught--and they expected it every day--he would be brought
to the capital, San Juan, in chains--yes, Senor, in chains--and put to
work on the roads, so that everybody could spit upon him--traitor!
Beast, that he was! And there would be other lighthouses--the whole
coast was to be as light as day. Senor Law-TON had said he could speak
with perfect confidence--he was doing so, trusting to the honor of the
Grandiose--the most distinguished--etc., etc. And now--this in a
summing-up voice with a slower movement, about twenty words to the
second--would the Grandioso go in as a partner in these ventures? The
income he could assure me would be so fixed that the light dues alone
would pay for the structure in two years--think of it, Senor, in two
years--perhaps less!--and forever after we could both sit down and
receive a small fortune, I by the Tampico in drafts signed by his
Excellency, and he in his own hacienda surrounded by the patriots who
honored him and the wife and children he adored.

At mention of the partnership a vague, cloudy expression crossed my
face; my companion caught it, and continued:

Or (again the voice slowed down) I would be paid for the structure on
its erection by me on the reef.

Again my eyes wandered, and again he took the cue:

Or--if that was not satisfactory--he would be willing to pay for the
ironwork alone as soon as it arrived in the harbor of San Juan.

My Spanish is more like an old uniform that is rubbed up for a parade
and then put away in camphor. Much of his talk was therefore lost on
me; but the last sentences were as clear as if they had dropped from
the lips of my old teacher, Senor Morales.

Half-rising from my chair, I placed my hand over my shirt-front and
thanked his Excellency for his confidence--really one of the greatest
compliments that had ever been paid me in all my professional career.
To be at once the partner of two such distinguished caballeros as
General Alvarez, the saviour of his country, and my distinguished
guest, was an honor that few men could resist, but--BUT--here I picked
up a lead pen