Nestor continued, "busy with the
papers of the Tolford estate. There are only two persons who know what
took place at that interview, Mr. Cameron and yourself, but we are
certain that the purpose of it was to urge Mr. Cameron to complete the
contract for munitions of war which was under discussion. It is also
quite likely that, failing in this, you sought the return of the
compromising letters which you had written to him."

The enraged diplomat made a desperate dash for the freedom of the
hills, such a short distance away, but was brought back by a
guard--brought back almost frenzied with the hate of the boy that
possessed him.

"Sit down," thundered the lieutenant. "Another break of that kind will
lead to handcuffs."

Don Miguel obeyed, throwing himself on the ground as far as possible
from his accuser. With a smile Nestor moved closer to him and went on.

"You did not get the letters. They are now safe in the vaults of the
War department. Why you did not secure them I cannot say, for they
were later found on the desk. One strong point in your favor, when the
accusation is weighed, is that you did not take the letters. Had you
left Mr. Cameron unconscious, you certainly would have secured them."

The harassed man lifted his eyes as if about to comment on the spoken
words, but finally decided to remain silent.

"Mr. Cameron was attacked that night by some person having murder in
his heart, and an innocent boy is accused of the crime. As I stated a
moment ago, the fact that the incriminating letters were not taken
speaks in your defense, still, you might have been frightened away
after striking the blow."

Jim Scoby and Felix, who had been listening intently to the
conversation, now whispered together for a moment, glancing
malevolently toward Don Miguel as they did so. The latter saw the
looks of hate and said a few words in Spanish which Nestor could not
understand.

It seemed to the boy that the three men were endeavoring to arrive at
some mutual defensive understanding with each other, so he asked
Lieutenant Gordon to separate them. He did not propose to have any
secret compact made there before his eyes.

"But there is still another view of the case," Nestor continued, after
listening for a moment to the enraged protests of the three prisoners,
who objected to the action that had been taken, "for, even if you did
not attack Mr. Cameron, you might have sent some person in to do the
work afte